Well I’ve not had a lot of sleep over the past week or so but it was definitely worth it. Hayfest was a roaring success and the feedback from festival-goers and artists has been overwhelmingly positive. The standard of the music was superb and the sound and light were excellent; our principal sponsor Lightcast put on a show which wouldn’t have looked out of place at a festival ten times the size of Hayfest.
Due to organisational commitments I didn’t get to see many of the acts close-up for any length of time although I heard just about every set. Personal highlights for me were: Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders playing a blinding Friday night set and blowing everyone away with the mighty ‘Gin House’ (I went down to witness that one at close quarters); Clive Gregson, brilliant as ever, warming up the crowd for Steve Harley on Saturday night; chilled jazz wafting over everyone on Sunday afternoon as they lazed on the grass in the warm October sunshine; Roachford delivering a master-class in musicianship and crowd-pleasing, closing the festival with a great cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’.
We meet in January to start planning Hayfest 2015. Bring it on!
Image: Roachford at Hayfest 2014 by Sara Porter – Copyright © 2014 Sara Porter Photography