Go Furness

"I survived Furness Fest!"

Kay Hebbourn reports from the front-line of the first ever Furness Fest.

Well, they said it would never happen and that it would be easier for pigs to fly. I think there were a number of times over the weekend that the organisers thought they should have taken heed. Well, I did see one flying pig!

It was as challenging as it was fun, an endurance test at points but one of those experiences that we will all be dining out on for a long time to come.

I struggled to help Fi Kennedy get her marquee up on Thursday before the festival started and help her set up her shop, Olive. She was terrified the whole thing would blow away in the terrible winds.

Then we waited and waited for the festival to begin on the Friday. A number of bands were cancelled and there was much deliberation about whether the event would move forward. Until a first aid station was organised, there would be no festival. So Friday afternoon was marked by heavy grey skies, lots of official meetings, no music and many phone calls to first aiders as everyone rallied round to get the first aid station organised.

Eventually the party began and by Friday night, the mood had lifted even though the weather didn’t! The crowds went crazy when the Holloways came out, and despite the muddy field, everyone was in great spirits.

However, the weather was relentless, there were tents blowing around like tumbleweed and the Olive Marquee took flight. This resulted in an all hands on deck manoeuvre to relocate clothes from Olive and Working Class Heroes into the Ulverston Community Arts Network children’s tent and get the small marquee down.

Like any catastrophe, great things emerged afterwards. Olive’s presence in the children’s tent breathed a new dimension to it and soon we had created a festival within a festival in that tent. Other traders moved in too and took shelter from the elements. Like moths to the fire, we soon had a crowd of people making music with anything that could be made into an instrument. It was hilarious.

In fact it became a bit of a make-shift dormitory after the party when people huddled together to keep warm. Can you spot the Furness Young professionals in this huddle?

The next day the kids had a great time painting stones, making lanterns, hats and masks and decorating the tent with artwork. They enjoyed some fantastic storytelling by the barking Martin. They loved all of the circus skills with Jesters and playing with glow sticks at night. Too bad for anyone caught sleeping too long in the morning, they then became a canvass for the children who loved to face-paint!

The FYP contingent proved to be hardy campers, many of them sticking out the 3 days although I did hear that there were a few soft ones who snuck home for showers! Sally Broom and Becca came dressed for the occasion and certainly didn’t let the weather prevent them from having a brilliant time.

Harriet Knowles was a huge help in the UCAN tent and was really proactive in making sure that the youngsters had a good time.

Dave Crossley with Monster Monster created a really rocking show on the Saturday night and his amazing 11 foot lantern monster then took up residence in the kid’s tent after his performance.

Local student teacher Jordan Emms and his band The Moon Cats also really got the crowds going and it was fab to have The Moon Cats hanging around for duration of the festival.

It was difficult to leave the festival on Monday as we had such a great weekend. I know Carl and the other organisers learned many tough lessons over the course of Furness Fest and perhaps didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy it like the rest of us. It was an ambitious project and despite hitches, they did manage to succeed in pulling off a 3 day event near Barrow. No matter how you look at it, Furness Fest was a success for all of us who enjoyed the music and an opportunity to get together on home turf. Richard Branson always says that it is how entrepreneurs cope with failure that makes the difference to success. I hope the organisers can really celebrate all that they have achieved and realise how well they did, embrace the opportunities for learning and come back again next year with an even better event. Thanks Furness Fest you did it!

Posted by Kay Hebbourn on 28th July