Nozstock Festival

So grassroots, it’s munching with the cows . . . .

As a cow raises its heavy head and moos out across the idyllic emerald hills of Herefordshire, a thumping bass beat swells on the breeze. A pink hazy sky welcomes the morning and dancers covered in a film of their own excitement loll about, slowly grazing their way back to camp and the horizontal, after many an hour of relentless activity and thrill-a-minute entertainment.

This July 31st, Nozstock Festival beckons back its faithful regulars, their friends, friends of friends, and brand new curious folk to a farm that feels like home set on the Bromyard Downs, to the garden fete cum performance extravaganza that Nozstock has become. No longer just a barbecue on the lawn for the faithful ‘Last Tuesday of the Month’ Club, with a tasty rib and a folky friend crooning sweet melodies into the night, now the overgrown party showcases every array of musical and artistic performance across 8 stages and more hidden areas, enclosed in the intimate and homely environs of this 17th century farm.

With the pear tree covered Orchard at the epicentre of this grassroots event, the main stage has seen the likes of Hayseed Dixie warbling their tip top comedy bluegrass rock, and local pranksters The Anomalies, who will make a return this year, packing out the field with their punchy hip hop slogans. This focal point merges frivolous shopping, summer cider drinking and sofa surfing, and party-goers this year will bounce to the anthemic sounds of the Buzzcocks, alongside a smooth brew of up and coming indie acts, including Red Light Company. Wending a way towards the tudor farmhouse, the Garden Stage serves up experimental sounds, punk funk whimsy, alongside dance acts such as iconic merchants of breakbeat, Krafty Kutz and the Scratch Perverts featuring Dynamite MC, who will be providing 2009’s partygoers with a lazer-frenzied dance-a-thon.

Converted barns vibrate with sub-thumpings from the skilled fingertips of master of drum ‘n’ bass Andy C with MC GQ, while breaks and trance DJs silence those old enough to say ‘raves aren’t like they used to be.’ Nozstock’s newest addition, Tribe of Frog will be serving up a storm of neon-induced psytrance revellry down in the Coppice.

Thanks to its late license and homegrown venues, Nozstock gives its punters all the fun and frivolity of a real festival, without the corporate sheen. Shenanigans for the mini-festivaler occur off the beaten track and over the bridge in the Dingle, where workshops aplenty and theatrical splendour beckon every taste and size in investigation… Small hands meet clay and puppetry, large ones stroke the much-coveted vintage tractors. Ephemeral electro-acoustica rings out across the field and deep in the dark of the theatre, strange and intriguing behaviours ensue!

Catch a late night short film or music video from our mesmerising collections and take a detour to the comedy tent for the odd smirk and rib-busting chuckle, before the lights turn low for burlesque drama at the chime of midnight. Whose foot does the slipper fit?

Tickets cheaper than they should be…. at www.nozstock.com
Got a suggestion? www.myspace.com/nozstock

Nozstock Festival 31 July- 2 August 2009
Rowden Paddocks, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4LS
Promo queries: promotions@nozstock.com