Quirky, free-wheeling weekend at Nozstock (From Hereford Times)

Quirky, free-wheeling weekend at Nozstock

4:10pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Music & Dance

IT is fair to say that Nozstock attracts an eclectic crowd.

At noon on Saturday, I was drinking tea and considering Goan curry for lunch when the man next to me, dressed as a minotaur, finished off a pint of cider and headed to the rave shed.

This little festival, run by the Nosworthy family on their working farm near Bromyard , has carved out its reputation as an eccentric family-friendly affair where dressing up is encouraged and the beer on tap is brewed around the corner.

It is probably what most small-scale festivals long to offer – a quirky, freewheeling weekend where thousands come to forget themselves before heading back to reality on Monday morning.

This year, the theme was myths and legends and the sun shone. Thousands of people poured through the gates over the three days, not all local but many making a return visit.

With three live stages, DJ huts, a comedy tent, mini cinema, and a craft area to investigate, there was enough to keep visitors busy even before music thumped on into the early hours.

Headliners The Futureheads pleased the post-punk guitar band fans, while The Proclaimers prompted a sing-along on Saturday, but for many it is the undiscovered acts you stumble upon that become festival favourites. For me, that meant live sets from The Correspondents on the Orchard Stage and a stomping show from ninepiece ensemble Brassroots.

Also popular was 18-yearold singer songwriter Jake Bugg who, influenced by the likes of Donovan and Don McLean, proved perfect for a Sunday after