Since its inception in 2006 LeeStock Music Festival has evolved, and changed venues over the years. For some time now its home has been the grounds of Kentwell Hall. Once the sheep have been relocated, the fields alongside its main approach provide ample space for a music festival and everything that goes with it – traffic management, car parking, camping, a backstage arena and of course plentiful toilets.
This was my first LeeStock. From the moment I drove up that lime-tree lined drive I had a good feeling about this festival. Being new to me, it took a while to find my bearings and collect my press credentials. Everyone I interacted with was helpful and friendly, making me feel at home from the start.
One of the first bands I got to see play was Evy Frearson. To me this was just too good to be true. I saw Evy perform a solo set at the East Anglian Festival Network Show last October. Her performance made an impression, and I wondered at the time what she would sound like with a full band behind her and here they were on the main stage! They did not disappoint; this was a far better start to the festival than I could have hoped for.
Wandering around the arena of this family orientated event, there were festival trolleys everywhere that had been dragged from the deepest depths of the shed, mostly dusted down and loaded with picnic gear and waterproofs. Some even had children on board – hopefully not having spent the winter in the shed too. Folding chairs were formed in semi circles like covered wagons as picnic rugs were planted in the middle and Dads were dispatched to the bar for drinks.
There were large teepees dotted about the arena where those who didn’t quite trust the English weather on a bank holiday weekend had taken up residence. There were food outlets in abundance and a whole raft of inflatables for the youngsters to slide and bounce around on. The strong wind blowing up from the west across the River Stour should have made it easy to use those banana shaped canvas things that, with the right flick of the wrist, transform into a three-piece suite or a sofa. However, it is early in the season…
Back on the main stage and I was about to discover my first two new bands of the weekend. Diamonds and Whiskey are an American band out of North Carolina fronted by the vocal powerhouse that is Willa May. She had the crowd in the palm of her hand when she changed the set-list on a whim and gave us a cover of The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’. Looking out over the crowd she commented “Hell, we don’t often get to play with a view like this!” Indeed, the 580-year-old Holy Trinity Church makes for an impressive backdrop.
Thera was the next act up, a young lady from the Czech Republic – what can I say. Bluesy, brooding, sultry… I was hooked. At just 18 years old Thera has a stage presence well beyond her years and writes songs the lyrics of which are raw. Her sound is rock, is pop, is blues, is electronic… is a captivating mix. Seek out her album ‘I Wish I Called’ and have a listen.
I could now list all the bands that entertained us, but I can’t stand listy reviews. At LeeStock there is a Stage 2. A small stage where upcoming artists can play, where Evy Fearson played last year. The stage is placed and programmed in such a way as not to have to compete with the main stage. For the few shots I got from Stage 2, my apologies to the artists, I didn’t get your names – well except Jacklin & Smith for obvious reasons.
The headline acts at festivals are rarely a surprise. They are there because they have earned the right and they are there to draw the crowds – Sleeper, Maximo Park, The Real Thing, OMI and Boney M. all delivered what was expected. What I found surprising were the teenagers all singing along to hits from the 70s and 80s – perhaps the local schools had been running classes in classic disco tunes in the run up to the bank holiday. “You like that one?” asked Chris Amoo of The Real Thing after they sang ‘You to Me Are Everything. “You do? I can’t stand that song.” He joked. “I’ve been singing it for over fifty years!” To the kids in the crowd, it was as fresh as when he first sang it back in Liverpool with his late brother Eddie.
Leah Wilcox, a twenty-year-old from Derby along with her band were not phased a bit playing on the biggest stage they had ever performed on. It won’t be long before they play big stages on a regular basis. After their set I was amused to watch Leah and the band pack their instruments away through the sunroof of her tiny Citroen. It was in complete contrast to Maximo Park’s 19m long sleeper bus and trailer.
I had only planned to be at LeeStock on the Saturday but was drawn back on the Sunday by the general vibe of the festival and the friendly atmosphere. Had I not come back I would have missed KC Johns from Nashville, her song ‘Best Seat in the House’ had me hoping that I have as good a releationship with my granddaughter as she had with her grandad. There was Fraser Morgan from Essex, whom I ‘ve known about but not seen live. Jamaican singer OMI and his single ‘Cheerleader’ passed me by in 2014, but I was seriously impressed by this man’s enjoyable performance just before Boney M. took to the stage.
Festivals for me are not about headline acts, they are about experiences. Some of the best festivals I’ve been to you have probably never heard of. Many things can make a festival experience special. At the heart of a good festival are hardworking people, most of whom are volunteers, who give their time to make the thing happen. LeeStock seems to have those people in abundance.
LeeStock is run in memory of Lee Dunford, a young musician who lost his battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Lee was supported by The Willow Foundation helping make those final years special. The festival raises funds for and awareness of The Willow Foundation.
Every year thousands of 16-40 year olds in the UK are newly diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. When they should be enjoying the prime of life, they’re dealing with stress, isolation, medication and hospital appointments.
Willow believes that every moment should be precious. They are dedicated to helping young adults take much needed time out from the reality of living with serious illness, creating magic moments that become lasting memories.
