Our writer Joss and her children went to Black Deer Festival for the first time. We asked them to make the review a little different, to write a diary!

Joss Gives us a well detailed personal experience of her first ever Black Deer Festival in her first ever review! Attending the festival with her two children aged 11 and 3, the family were in the Live-In Vehicle area. The family were there to soak in whatever they could – music, food, kids area and more!

Go on a journey with Joss and her family to capture the essence of the festival!

Here is day 2 of their experience!

Enjoy!

By Jocelyn Knight

OMG! Am I dreaming? It’s 8.30, I’m camping, I’m still dozing, not a peep from the small people. The campsite is so quiet. Soren and I both agree we had the best night’s sleep. The previous few weeks work on insulating the van floor has clearly paid off. When I open the door there are people milling around, just supper quietly and respectful.

When we walked to the arena I noticed the toilet and the shower block in close proximity. Its been a few years (7) since I went to a festival and it was posh to have a shower let alone get free ones. Not here, 16 showers and as many if not more toilets that were clean and well stocked. In general the arena loos were also OK. I’ve done V.I.P. and I’ve done Slumdog Millionaire so these were pretty good. The showers were even too hot but that could be due to the already sizzling morning temperature. The queue at peak times was maybe five minutes. Time to have a good chat about acts and happenings with fellow campers in the very British queue.

After providing pancakes- always a crowd pleaser and having my coffee I want to go and photograph a live-aboard for my brother. It’s a Bedford ML, he has an RL. An absolute pleasure to meet Mark and Sam insta#travelswithmytruck happy to share hints and tips about his van life. It’s always interesting to see what type of set-up other people have.

We are ready to hit the road and check out the kids entertainment area today. We hang around Café Nero and Hayley’s bar area which also has most of the kids stuff. Nicely situated near shady trees and toilets this area worked really well for adults too. Close enough to the music that you weren’t constantly having to collect everyone and walk to a stage or visa versa. Secure enough that the kids had their own area. Unprompted, a security guy told me that I could take a short walk to the welfare tent and get a wrist band to write my number on for the youngest in case of separation.

A good selection to keep the kids busy. Obviously some you had to book for – quite a good idea to have a central booking desk in the area. Pick from activities such as: tree climbing, wall climbing, crafty tent, zip wire, circus skills, skateboard lessons, design your own board or cap, plus building a tractor, horse and barn and more! Lots to just look at and watch, even a silent disco.

There were refreshments close by. We had a couple of enormous hot dawgs whilst enjoying Morganway and Motel Sundown without having to go far. Both I would see again! This was the first year of the festival allowing chairs to be brought into the arena. Personally I don’t mind and I sort of expect it. I think everyone was respectful of space and there was enough space. It goes without saying that you don’t park up at the front. The crew were very quickly on it when the rain came to politely ask those on chairs in the tented areas to stand so more people could shelter.

We had a bit of a rest and then had a wander around the shops. Great to have the normally priced ‘well stocked’ corner shop to pop to. Sigrun devoured a punnet of strawberries on the way round. Lots of Boho beautiful brigalier to buy, mostly for us girls. The cigar box guitar shop was drawing a lot of interest. Chicken Bone John looked the part in denim dungarees and cap. Things of beauty, his daughter, who is fully involved in the making of them, was happy to let him take the limelight. He demoed his wears and his talent, a show in his own right.

Back at ‘the ranch’ we relaxed with the bubble wand and I syked myself up for the afternoon viewing as we listened to Cardinal Black in the background.

Still sizzling hot, I pulled the trolley back to where it was at. Soren announced it was making a funny sound and about five mins later a wheel promptly came off. Hmmmmm. Not ideal tbh. However I am a very practical gal. Fortunately, somebody was generous to let their partner go on ahead while they kept an eye on the kids. I jogged (unpleasant) back to obtain various spanners. One family even spotted a missing nut and bolt in the grass! Although not much good if the split pin is missing! Off back to the van again to find anything I can bend to make do. Thank you to those who stopped to help and those who asked if we were OK. I definitely deserved that 1st and 2nd pint. However the down shot of that was that we missed Calexico in person but I had one ear tuned in as we made our good our trolley malfunction.

Soren was dying to have a go on the Bucking Bronco. It was funny that it was aimed at the adults but I only saw two have a go the whole weekend. The attendee was very generous with the goes. We had another wander without purpose, kids ate more chips. I was intrigued by Westlands food set up. The matt black Ford Lorry (The Smoking Rat) that appeared to be just the cook house of the operation was far from it. As the slightly exhausted Paul told me it actually was fully roadworthy and would happily pull another vehicle. Clearly working non stop with his sons and team, he did have time to tell me their success about the only covered, seated restaurant with table service at the festival. They started it last year and it was even more popular this time, particularly with the sun. The shear amount of meat needed to feed this operation was phenomenal.

Having sampled mostly a meat heavy diet so far I opted for a steak Japanese bowl next, fulfilling and I felt a bit smug because it was pretty healthy.
The Teskey Brothers were just what I needed after the day’s trolley trial and of course Bonnie (Raitt). Just another level of performance. A complete pro, even the way she spoke to the crowd was so relaxed, like old friends. Another stunning day. The kids were starting to wane and so we came home for our second night of amazing sleep to hear The Pretenders from the van!