As the summer finally kicks into action, so too does the busy music festival season, with an array of well-established events occupying fields and spaces next to an ever-expanding selection of lesser known boutique music festivals across the UK.
As an experienced gig goer of many years, I was always (naively) very vocal in my youth about attending such events as an adult with children - why would you not take your little ones to festivals to check out bands?
Most children love music, and live music especially. There seems to be an almost tribal instinct inherited by them to sway about madly to music or (in the case of my little boy) 'air guitar' wildly while hopping up and down on one leg.
As a teen, I would often watch parents attending Glastonbury with their kids in tow, their children running care-free through the muddy walkways, resembling street urchins of the late 18th century. I'd comfort myself that just because I would eventually grow up and become an adult, it wouldn't stop me from enjoying the festival experience with my wife and kids.
Fast forward a fair number of years and reality hits home - an overnight trip to the grandparents and you're packing more wipes/toys/clothes/snacks than you would ever take for a full-on weekend of madness at Glastonbury (bag full of alcohol, secondly wells).
On top of this, there's the constant worry for us parents while taking kids out in a normal 'controlled' environment like the weekend supermarket shop, as we attempt to stop the youngsters from causing unnecessary harm to him/herself or any unsuspecting civilians. Lord, how could anyone cope with this amount of pressure in a muddy field of 50,000 music fans?
Thankfully, festivals have come a long way over the decades and now cater for families and fans alike, with a recent boom in the last five years of kid-specific festivals - offering them a taste of things to come and a stepping stone to their first real music festival experience.
Lollibop (August 15th - 17th, Hatfield House, Herts) is now in its fifth year and caters specifically for children. We've taken our son for the last couple of years and, if past appearances from Dick and Dom, Mr Bloom, live sets from the incredible Zingzillas and the legendary Mr Tumble are anything to go by, this year will be another huge success. More on this - plus the chance to win tickets to the event- to follow!
Further afield, Bestival (September 4th - 7th, Isle Of Wight) continues to go from strength to strength. Now in its tenth year, it caters for true music lovers and families alike, offering something for everyone in a chilled, relaxed environment.
And for the adventurous? Glastonbury starts this week (June 25th - 29th, Pilton, Somerset) offering a myriad of performances across the site, from circus to mime, comedy and puppetry, theatre, music and magic. And this year, dads get a special performance from Dolly Parton, too.
Just don't forget your wellies...
John
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