Review by Iris Griffin
Deer shed festival has always been about more than just music, whilst festivals focus on the biggest headliner, deer shed magic lies in the little moments.
Set in the Yorkshire countryside, Deer shed is a festival that promotes creativity. Whilst being based in the Yorkshire countryside, the festival is still easy to navigate. I arrived around 1pm on Friday and was able to get parked and had set up the tent by 2pm! Getting parked at this festival takes less than 10 minutes, and the camp site has plenty of space right next to the arenas, additionally with it being quick to pick up your wristbands. Deer Shed is accessible if you are going for the first time, making it stress free to head into the excitement for your weekend. One of the first things I noticed when walking into the arena was the number of experiences they had to offer.
Deer Shed makes the experiences one of the core values of the festival, making it a unique and enjoyable experience for families and children. If you’re into sports and adventure, there is a tree climbing experience; kayaking on the lake; a whole sports arena with a roller-skating rink and even wild swimming!
If you’re more of a creative individual, there are handfuls of craft workshops such as pottery making; wood witling and science tents. Or if you’re looking for a weekend of relaxation, deer shed offers yoga sessions and different book pop-ups, and interactive places for your children such as play dens and face painting. Will you fancy a break from the music? If so, you’re in luck as there are handfuls of comedy shows on as well. My favourite from the weekend was watching “Shelf”. With a handful of opportunities, it’s almost impossible to run out of things to discover.
As well as activities, it is essential that a festival have food vendors, but Deer Shed goes above and beyond. They have many different food vendors for you to choose from, making it stress-free if you have dietary requirements or if you’re fancying trying a new cuisine. Deer Shed excel at sustainability and being environmentally friendly as well as supporting local independent food vendors, everyone had reusable cups all weekend which was a refreshing sight to see in the music world. Price wise, the food wasn’t unreasonable, and for around £10 you can get a really filling meal. Our personal favourite was the Chinese as well as the pakoras, which we bought the first time after we were given a tasting sample by the welcoming staff.
Kicking the festival off with a bang, Romy Taylorr was the opening musician of the festival, her set attracted a large crowd, with peaceful calmer music. After Taylorr, I headed towards the main stage to watch Formal Sppeedwear, a three piece act whose music I will be adding to my playlist!
Whilst there were so many incredible artists throughout the weekend, some acts became fan favourites immediately. One of the talking points of the weekend for me was Man, Woman, Chainsaw, an upcoming band in the music industry. Not only did it seem like they were enjoying their set, but the crowd was also dancing and singing along. Their violinist Clio Starwood has a great stage presence, even using the violin as a prop on occasion. The same can be said for the talented lead singer Vera Leppanan, my favourite moment of the set was her dancing whilst using a tambourine, a lighthearted experience which is what Deer Shed is about!
Additionally, Deadletter, a band who has played before at Deer Shed on the main stage, played an incredible set on the top stage this year, likewise for many artists that weekend such as Big Special. The weekend was full of incredible talent and it’s evident how much all the musicians have passion in their crafts in such a unique way. I am sure many people went away feeling inspired to join the music world and even perhaps learn an instrument.
What excited many people were the surprise sets, one being in the top tent and the other two as acoustic sets by the campfire after the headliners on Friday and Saturday. After the headliner on Friday, I went to the campfire enthusiastic about who it could be. To my delight, it was Rail Replacement Bus Service. 200 people huddled around the campfire, to listen to and appreciate the music. Having the campfire at the end of the night was great to wind down and relax. With music written from the heart, I found all their songs moving, in between the funny jokes from the main singer. Crowd participation brought everyone together for an hour, where a few of their songs they gave us bits to sing, which was incredible!
The other surprise set that I saw was Panic Shack, a band whom I am fond of, and have seen live at Deer Shed and Ynot before this weekend. Not knowing who was going to play, I went to the top tent and waited eagerly for a band to come out. Their gig was amazing as most people knew who the band was and love their music. I was surrounded by panic shack fans, who knew the lyrics, someone even wearing their merch! Deer Shed couldn’t have picked a better band to do a surprise set.
Throughout the music, food, and activities, Deer Shed is an incredible weekend for everyone, no matter the age or what music you like, there will be something for you!
If you’re looking for a festival to bring your kids, but you still want to enjoy the music, I highly recommend Deer Shed as your go to. Tickets are on sale for next year, get them whilst you can!
