STANDON STORY
We started with just 25 friends, a swimming pool, a set of decks and a BBQ for Alex’s birthday. The next year Alex asked a few more friends and someone brought a guitar and a set of bongos. Then we had the bright idea of inviting some bands and building a stage. It collapsed. But it was good while it lasted, so we spent some time honing our carpentry skills, sourced some more up-and-coming acts and realised we had a festival on our hands.
Having grown by word-of-mouth, we’ve got a bit bigger since those days, but retained our home-grown ethos and commitment to championing new artists. More than half of last year’s Mercury Awards nominees have played Standon and you’re pretty much guaranteed to discover bands before most people have heard of them. Florence and the Machine, Friendly Fires, Mumford and Sons and The Noisettes all played Standon before enjoying the profiles they do today. Similarly, we’ve had The Maccabees, Mr Hudson, Glasvegas, Delphic and Paloma Faith.
Throw in classics like Super Furry Animals, Hawkwind, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force and Tony 'Is this the way to Amarillo' Christie, alongside leftfield acts such as Sunra Arkestra and Acid Mother’s Temple to mix it up and you get an idea of the sort of varied line-ups we put together. When the live music’s over we take full advantage of our 6am licence, as DJs and various other performers take over our now infamous nightclub in a cowshed. As befits the UK’s only nightclub in a festival it seems to keep getting nominated for various dance awards.
But Standon Calling is about much more than just the music and we’re keen to support interesting artists of all ilks, be they painters, sculptors, writers, actors, comedians or even chefs. A different theme takes over the event each year, reflected in the interactive theatre, art installations, set designs, and outrageous outfits our guests dream up. Last year, Standon went intergalactic and alongside the telescopes, the Tardis and Button Moon sculpture were two giant tuning forks that fired dancing lasers into the sky.
We’re constantly reinventing the site and secret areas open up from midnight. The first ever secret stage is now a different sort of fixture altogether: it’s a bar built into a circle of horse chestnut trees, which our guests seem particularly happy to prop up. We’re pretty sure we’re the only UK festival to feature a swimming pool and our guests make enthusiastic use of that too.
We know the people that come to Standon are special so we make an effort to make them feel appreciated. We provide food that won’t insult your digestive system, luxury showers and loos that continue to put other festivals to shame, and try to ensure as little on-site queuing as possible. We’re sponsor-free as we think that most people escaping to the country for a weekend are probably trying to avoid advertising. We also like to keep our fields clean and green. Aside from only working with caterers that care about their refuse, we also employ an on-site environmental army to recycle as much as possible and ensure that nothing stays on site that shouldn’t after the event.
Situated just 40 minutes away from London, 2010 promises to be our best and most innovative party yet. We’d love it if you can join us.
