Frankie Goes To Noisily 2018 for bbmlive.com

Noisily is a rare treat where a genuine music-loving community comes to meet & escape together once a year in the most stunning forest setting. This year was my second visit to the magical wonderland, and although it had grown in size in terms of stages – the crowd remained the perfect size, but with an added treat of a funk and soul stage, which was my home for the majority of the weekend.

This year I wanted to discover areas of Noisily I hadn’t had a chance to visit at my inaugural experience, so I wandered into the woods with a totally open mind on the Friday evening, keen to explore the unknown. I had been so enthusiastic to see that Noisily co-founder Audley had released an article prior to the festival focusing on gender equality in the music industry, leading to the addition of more female artists on the 2018 Noisily lineup. I was keen to make this the focus of my Noisily journey this year. The new Parliament of Funks stage scattered with disco balls and flow of the funk pumping from the speakers gave me goosebumps from start to finish. The collection of women playing at the stage smashed it (of course), the takeover from the SISU crew and WOMB 2 crew on Sunday afternoon were a definitive highlight for me, and the perfect end to a perfect weekend. I had a chat with the SISU girls after their set about their female DJ workshops in London and how they bring women together in a safe place and to help them learn new skills and throw parties where they can showcase their new learned passion & skill

The Orca Sound System hidden in the highest part of the forest was another unique addition to the festival this year, where the purpose of the movement is is to bring like-minded people together towards getting the word out and learning more about healthier oceans. The staging was a little rough around the edges, created from reclaimed wood, which I found to give the space more soul. The sound was crisp, cosmic and tunes often nostalgic with the added touch of some live instrumentals thrown in- I have high hopes for this stage as the festival continues year after year.

Of course the psychedelic music of Noisily is the focus for many of it’s family members who annually attend without fail. This year however, was a fully immersive experience for me as I watched in ore, the performers of the festival. The Foolish Rogues Acrobatic show were the icing on the cake, perfect for when your legs needed a break from the constant stomping and your eyes wanted to experience something different and intriguing. These guys, a collection of fabulous talent that I could never bore of watching- each act different from the next and so exciting to watch. There was never a moment across the weekend where I could not find something to suit my mood, whether it be the mind and soul area or the pumping Leisure centre. Bring on next year, where I hope to see more females across the main stages too!