Gottwood Festival: A weekend spent in an enchanting paradise...

After attending Gottwood last year and being taken aback by the incredible music and stunning scenery, there was no doubt that I would begin this year's festival season in Wales' very own boutique music & arts festival. Tucked away in an Anglesey forest, the festival has a secluded, untouched and intimate feel - a hidden gem given today's festival culture.

Gottwood is a truly idyllic festival for real-life escapism. Being set within
a beautiful country estate boasting woods and a lake, the festival had transformed the aesthetically pleasing surroundings into a mind-warped world through its engrossing art installations. You immediately appreciate the work put into the creation of the festival. Each stage had its own personality; one shaped in a wooden mask, another a wooden owl and even a caravan with the iconic Gottwood owl spray-painted on. A favourite installation of mine was the laser dome - a small tent hidden at the back of the woods that projected red lasers in absolute darkness alongside hypnotic techno. The dazed and bewildered faces escaping the tent was a priceless sight!

Owl Stage

Laser Dome

We were extremely lucky with the blazing sunshine - my days were spent frolicking the woods and lake listening to live performances from the likes of Seven Davis Jnr. I found myself spending most afternoons exploring the woods with each day being contrastingly different from the next. One afternoon highlight for me was Soul Clap's four hour set at the caravan stage. I couldn't have asked for anything better - dancing to the best music with the most overwhelming, beautiful and intimate vibe. Dropping their very own tracks such as their remix of Secaina Hudson's I Ain't With You with classic tunes such as Street Life and I'm Every Woman proved to be the perfect recipe for a Sunday afternoon. A festival memory to rival all others.

The music was at its best yet, with a line up consisting of ground-breaking DJ's such as Zip, Move D and Point G. On Saturday I headed down to the woods to watch Move D deliver one of my favourite sets of the whole weekend. Move D effortlessly mixed a range of eclectic tunes from Leon Vynehall's It's Just (House of Dupree), to Etienne De Crecy's Prix Choc and even The Streets' Has It Come To This? It's fair to say that this was one of the best sets, taking ravers through a late-night journey of honourable beats. The daytime flowed effortlessly into night at Gottwood, upbeat vibes in the sun seamlessly turned into the sets more suitable for the oncoming darkness, with the atmosphere reflecting this perfectly.

A seven-hour seamless set from Ben UFO B2B Craig Richards on Sunday was a stand-out for every music head around. Playing in the walled garden, clouds hung from the tent amongst the crowd who were mutually feeding off the techno duo in their absolute element. Unfortunately, it was a bit unanimous that Motor City Drum Ensemble's set left alot to be desired. Maybe I've fallen a victim to seeing him too many times, but the set sounded all too familiar and was unsupported by a lack lustre sound system. Combined with an over-flowing crowd (which seemed to slowly dissipate to alternative stages as it progressed), a set which I hoped had all the ingredients to be a festival highlight ended up falling surprisingly short. The only hiccup at an otherwise flawless weekend.

It felt like anything was possible at Gottwood. The benevolent vibe seemed to bless us with the sun and a unique mutual family love for fellow festivallers. By Sunday everyone seemed to know their 5,000 neighbours. It's impossible to go to Gottwood and not fall in love with the setting, music and crowd in their full regalia. The festival was out of this world. Describing Gottwood so succinctly doesn't do it's magic justice, take my word for it and experience its paradisical beauty for yourself.

 

Tania x