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 3 and 4 of their experience!

Enjoy!

It’s going to be one busy day! In sergeant major fashion I get everybody ready to get to The Ridge for the songwriter sessions. Liam Cromby, Bella White, Elles Bailey, Brandy Clark and Drake White. I thoroughly recommend these sessions and was gutted to have missed the previous two. Stripped back acoustic and personal, two songs by each artist and a short intro to the story behind the song!

Churros and a super rich chocolate sauce purchased for the already peckish children, they sat and I hovered around them like mother hen as the tent filled. I was determined to actually have visual on this session. I had goose bumps from Liam Cromby and from Bella White’s beautiful crisp voice. Already a firm fan of Elles Bailey, she relaxed the crowd with her down to earth conversation. Brandy Clark was funny, especially her song ‘She Smoked In The House’. Last but by no means least Drake White was quite the storyteller! Having quite a story to tell. My son particularly loved the analogy of the honey bee and the fly to explain a no brainer. (A honey bee doesn’t waste time explaining to a fly why honey tastes better than sh*t.) Hopefully he’ll remember to replace the expletive at school.

All were accompanied with a guitar. Elles had her collaborating songwriter Matt Owens and Holly Humberstone. Just beautifully sung, this was a real highlight of the festival for me and I would definitely see these type of songwriters session again. It was such a personable atmosphere in the tented environment and also a great taster session for anyone who was on the cusp of thinking if they might go and see the full set.

We were back to see Elles Bailey for her set later that day in the same tent. She didn’t disappoint. She got us all going. Sadly the rain had started. Not that she needs it, but as the tent filled up I couldn’t help thinking that maybe on the plus side she would have caught some people that hadn’t planned on seeing her because they wanted a bit of shelter from the drizzle.

With Sigrun having taken herself off to shelter to have a siesta in the wagon, Soren and I made our short way to the main stage to see Brandy Clark. Looking gorgeous in a crisp white suit to combat the grey rain, it was a different energy to Elles but perfect as we sat under the brolly on a log and had a cuddle, keeping each other warm.

I cant count how many times my son told me he loved me that weekend.

The weather cleared up a bit and was still pleasantly clement for us to see Amanda Shires. I hadn’t imagined the sounds she got from her fiddle were possible. It was quite a revelation to me. She too verbalised her appreciation of the British crowds. Drake White was as good as he promised in the sessions. However the rain was getting a bit too much for the kids not being able to sit down so we caught just the beginning of Lukas Nelson. Picture acquired for Hannah (out editor) – her fantasy second husband and we trundled for the last time back to the van.

I was hoping it might clear again but we actually had a very pleasant couple of hours lying around and talking and listening to the music in the background. I actually had to make some dinner on this last night but as a ‘feeder’ there was plenty to choose from. I really could have halved my provisions. The kids were very satisfied even the youngest whose normal stance is an all day buffet.

I got the chance to ask Soren to reflect on his experience to which he had thoroughly enjoyed. They both had a little trouble with the wrist bands, fiddling with them and making them too tight. He was a little worried about our ‘stuff’ being left outside over night but relieved when it was all still where we’d left it in the morning. You have to trust in the human spirit and at festivals it is usually on a high. There is always a chance that something will go missing and more of a risk with a tent but I felt that the festival was quite secure, especially with crew driving around quite regularly. A word on the crew- super friendly and helpful and also not a heavy presence but somehow never far away and it all seemed to me to run smoothly. Litter pickers were very efficient.

So for the last time we settled down, kids wanting to do it all again tomorrow.

Day 4

Upon awakening I am conscious of the time frame for departure – high noon. I needn’t have been because we had plenty of time to cook, shower, pack up and have a last chat with neighbours.

The weather once again was sunny so helpful in the military operation of re-packing the van.

Everyone had a wave as they drove off. We made our way to the exit, still with a smile on my face and literally just drove out, no queue. I have to commend the gatekeepers because not only was the entrance and exit narrow it was also shared with a small working industrial estate that was doing its usual business as well as vehicles collecting equipment from the festival, all entering at the same point.

So that was it! Just like that! We were on our way home! A quick stop in the near by Lewes to have lunch with friends then back to Stroud for around 5.30pm. I think I’d booked for next year by 6.30pm that night! Thank you Black Deer!