Festibelly 2012 - Preview

If Breaking More Waves was given the opportunity to curate a small music festival or festival stage (note to any festival organisers reading this, if you’d like our assistance please get in touch ) the line up at this year’s Festibelly would probably be close to what we’d come up with. A diverse roll call of artists that ranges from electronica to folk to pop to rock ‘n’ roll all merged together in amongst the beautiful surroundings of the New Forest, Hampshire. Festibelly is a truly independent grass-roots festival that supports new and emerging artists and as the festivals website proudly claims there is not one brand or sponsor in sight.

Originally born under the name Glastonbelly, Festibelly has grown from a one day event attended by just a few hundred of people to a two and a half thousand capacity show that for the first time ever this year runs over two days. However the organisers are keen to stress that they’re not intending to become the next Glastonbury or Reading, simply taking each year as it comes and sticking to what they do best.

So, that roll call of Breaking More Waves approved artists that we mentioned on the bill? There’s the glitchy geeky electronica of Gold Panda, the hipswinging 50’s influenced rock and roll of Kitty Daisy & Lewis, the sharp suited rawness, hip-hop beats and Bo Didley riffs of Willy Moon, the melodramatic and accessible electronic pop of Bastille, the reach for the stars anthems of Clock Opera, the ghostly laptop computerisations of Labyrinth Ear, the heartfelt symphonic songs of Bluebell, the dance your pants of scandi-pop of Vaz, the rousing rum drinking old fashioned folk sounds of Skinny Lister, quirky French trio We Were Evergreen, the sample cool kids Dems and electronics vs acoustics with bespectacled groove man James Yuill for starters – all of whom have been featured on this blog.

For those who complain that festival tickets have become too expensive Festibelly also provides a welcome cheaper alternative with tickets available as follows:

Saturday & Sunday Ticket – £55.00
(includes Saturday & Sunday night camping)
Sunday Ticket – £38.00
(includes Sunday night camping only)

The festival takes place on the 25th and 26th August.

Furthermore if you’re lucky enough to have your birthday on the weekend of Festibelly you can get in for free. The founders of Festibelly, Tom and Andy share their birthday on the August bank holiday weekend and have therefore decided that if it's your birthday on the Saturday or Sunday of Festibelly you can come for nothing, but if not you can grab a ticket from here. Full details of how to get your free birthday wristband are here.

Here are three of the bands you'll likely to find us down the front for.

Skinny Lister - Colours

Gold Panda - Mountain



Bluebell - Cinderella