Back for it’s tenth year, Y Not Festival amazed it’s biggest ever crowd of 15,000.
The ingredients were all there; chart-topping acts, local buzz bands, real music fans, lush countryside, and all the eccentricities of a cool festival – we saw a giant sit-in turtle, a witty Y Not newspaper and a secret stage found by walking through a stinking toilet.
Fortunately we sent two writers down to see what happens once these ingredients are put into the mixer.
Here are five of our favourite moments from Y Not Festival.
– Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls playing live.
The very last act to play the main stage is where we begin. We spotted Turner backstage in the production area looking relaxed and very chatty before he stepped up on stage. Of course he has every reason too to be. Turner was about to play his third Y Not gig, and it turned out to be the best of the weekend. Everything about the gig felt like a homecoming. His interaction with the crowd was unmatched, particularly when he had them jumping, singing and clapping during the final track, ‘Four Simple Words’. But our favourite moment was the soaring and heavier punk tune, ‘Try This At Home’, which had the crowd in raptures.
– Discovering the Tea & Toast truck.
There’s something more to simply eating at festivals. Food powers us through long waits for acts, recoups us after long nights, and brings festival goers together. We often heard people getting ridiculously enthusiastic about certain stalls, but I suppose you need that reaffirmation before you part with £8-00 for a wrap. Regardless, ‘Tea & Toast’ at Y Not Festival should go down in folklore for it’s amazing food and quirky van. We concluded that there’s nothing better than perching upon a bench early in the morning, biting into thick, honey-laden toast, reminiscing over yesterdays events over warm, heart-warming tea.
Click to enlarge.
– Dizzee Rascal’s “Bonkers”.
Dizzee fully lived-up to the hype for his Saturday night headline slot. His parting track was the dance-floor-filler ‘Bonkers’ featuring DJ Armand Van Helden. With a view from the press pit, the hedonistic lifestyle boomed out by the rascal was certainly replicated by the boisterous crowd. Any doubts about Y Not Festival living up to it’s ‘Small, Fresh, Loud’ tag were dashed.
– The Gorgeous Chans set.
Enhancing Nottingham’s position on the musical map are eight-piece indie-pop group, The Gorgeous Chans. Witnessing this set at The Quarry stage you can see why the act have won the coveted ‘Nottingham Future Sound’ prize. Similar to Vampire weekend or Dog Is Dead, the bands mix of guitars and horns moved the crowd to whip on their dancing shoes and get their groove on. Be interesting to see whether they reach the heights of Jake Bugg. Recommended.
– Jigging away with Y Not’s best-dressed man.
Dale Rowles heads the Steampunk rock band BB BlackDog, hailing from the Midlands. Cider in hand amongst a chilled-out crowd, we will never forget bopping to their funky rhythms.
Click to enlarge.
See you again next year!