Tuesday 9 August 2011

A Rocking Weekend



The Big Chill, what's that all about then?


Named after the popular London-based club night, the Big Chill Festival is now in it's 16th year. With just under 40,000 revellers it's tiny by Glastonbury standards, has ten stages and hosts over 350 acts over a three day period. It's an eclectic mix of every genre of dance music from chart to African, dance, Latin and trance.


We've been going for years and to be honest it's changed a lot over that time. The original owners sold out a couple of years back and although it's lost much of the original arty vibe and the clientele has become more mainstream it's still a unique and friendly gathering. This year they introduced a "family arena" with specialist DJs, non-swearing stand-up comics, a working farm and a dressing-up box. This was brilliant for us non-parents who for the first time were able to enjoy the music without nearly being garotted by a diabolo-toting child .


There's still quirkiness around.


I love The Enchanted Garden, alternative therapies and hippiness aplenty.


The food at the Big Chill is possibly the finest at any festival. This white van serves authentic Kolkata vegan street food and offers early morning Bengali cookery lessons.


Somebody's a fan.


There's loads of cool places to chill ...


...and sights to marvel at. This greenhouse is situated in the main arena and is tended to by a team of blokes in skimpy pants.


Situated in a valley, the Big Chill seems to have it's own micro climate. We only had a couple of heavy showers all weekend. Friday was particularly glorious.


I hadn't seen the Chemical Brothers since they supported Oasis at the now legendary Knebworth gig in August 1996 and they still rocked.


How many festivals can boast a duck pond?


A mini Stonehenge made from recycled water tanks. My Cher outfit proved very popular.


During The Empire Of The Sun set.


The Bullitts featuring Idris Elba, Jay Electronica and Lucy Liu.


Saturday morning festival essentials, a pint of cider and a Guardian newspaper in a special festival bag.


During the Crystal Fighters set.


Robert Plant played with The Band Of Joy, his original band from 1966. Being a local lad there were lots of Midlanders who'd turned up just for his set. It started well, his voice was excellent but sadly became a bit dull.


During the Janelle Monae set.


Testament to a great band is that you can sit through the rain and enjoy every minute. Jon loved Steel Pulse, a legendary Birmingham reggae band in it's 35th year.


Every stage is presented beautifully and the entire festival site is immaculately maintained. The things that most often irk festival goers aren't in evidence at the Big Chill. There's no litter, clean toilets (so no men peeing in open view) and a campsite crew on hand to assist anyone taking down their tents to ensure none are left behind.


During the Kayne West set. He was on for over two hours, went off on a bizarre 15 minute rant set to music about how lonely and misunderstood he was but he was still absolutely brilliant and his tribute to Amy Winehouse was beautiful.

Great acts, fab weather, good food, plentiful cider and perfect company and only three weeks until the next festival.


81 comments:

  1. Looks like a great weekend - especially the guys in skimpy pants ;)

    As the Mum of diabolo throwers I still get annoyed at events when some less skilled child tries to 'brain' me ;)

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  2. You look fab in all of your festi outfits! Sounds like my kind of festival - and love the Kanye! xxx

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  3. Looks an amazing time Vix, so much stuff going on. I miss festivals.
    Cider, food, music and gorgeous outfits.

    xxx

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  5. Hi, Vix - another festival coming up? You lucky girl! Which one? We love the small ones - mainly folky/Pagan, but maybe next year, the Big Chill? In our fifties, would we feel out of place, do you think? Lynn

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  6. Great photos, I'm loving your outfits and it looks like you had a great time!!! Wish I had the guts to go to a festival!!!!

    Julia @ Retro Jules

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  7. Sounds like a good time was had by all. Loving the Boho vibes in all the images. XXX

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  8. Looks like you had great fun! I love the pics - the guys tending the greenhouse are hilarious - I was at Glasto a few years back when Chemical Brothers were playing but had to shoot off before their set - was gutted.

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  9. Looks like an amazing festival! Love your gorgeous festival wardrobe!

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  10. @ Lynn
    You'd love The Big Chill. There were loads of older folk (in their sixties and older) having a fab time. x

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  11. Wow! I'm not a festival goer myself due to the main reasons people don't go to them but this festival sounds really good!

    It's like a mini Glastonbury but without the grubbiness!

    You and Jon look so adorable in the pictures of you both - you are looking especially beautiful and glowing!

    I had to laugh at the men tending to the green house! What were they growing in there? :p

    I'm glad you both had a brilliant time! xxx

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  12. oh, this seems to be sooo much fun, and honestly, I love all your outfits! you look great, dear vix!

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  13. I really enjoyed looking through your amazing pictures! What a brilliant festival!

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  14. What a random place! Exp the skimpy gardeners hehe! xx

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  15. such a great joyful pictures!) looks like you've had lots of fun))

    http://tri-skelos.blogspot.com/

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  16. It looks like you had a wonderful time, so much variety there! You got some great weather too x

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  17. Glad you had a great time! xxx

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  18. What a weekend! How wonderful you had some decent weather for it too - I loved the fairies...






    Ahem, and the guys in hotpants - What was that??! xxx

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  19. You are the festi queen, you looked amazing in all your outfits, so glad you had a great time and great weather too. I LOVE the mother earth, think I'll have to go and make one of those, very inspired.

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  20. What fun and how good it would be to look as good as you always do in all your retro lovelies.Oh qnd John looks very cute too.

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  21. What a wonderful selection of pictures - I felt as if I was almost there.

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  22. yay festivities!

    I'm glad you enjoyed it =) I'm amused by the garotting children remark, they haven't quite learnt the art of watching out for other peoples heads then! at womad there were only a few that had those devil stick things.. so not too bad despite the name.
    I love that mama earth made from the mud!
    Poor Kanye West. He does have a massive ego though. How were Crystal Fighters?
    and oh yes- your outfits look so snazzy!

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  23. I thoroughly approve of the randomly dotted about seating areas. Magazine rack and all - how very well thought out!

    It looks like an amazing weekend. Clothes, weather, music, food - all fantastic!

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  24. Ahhh festivals how I miss thee!!! I love to see you guys grooving away at festivals. SO GOOD for ya soul!!
    A good place to avoid riotous louts and thugs I'd imagine. Steer clear over there.
    x

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  25. Wow looks fab! love how retro it all is, and its good to hear of a bit of calmness at a festival, i went to leeds 2years ago and it mimicked the scenes of london on the last night, people setting fire to tents, total disregard to peoples property, it was horrendous!

    xx

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  26. Colorful, lively, full of unexpected sights & sounds... I rather suspect the two of you contribute significantly to the flavorful mix.

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  27. It looks like a fantastic week end!

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  28. Thanks for this Vix, great because I knew nothing about the festival. You and Jon look so right together.

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  29. Wow - a festival 10 times the size of our nearest town! It looks like great fun. And men in scanty pants are always a nice addition to any event!

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  30. It sounds like you had a belter of a weekend! Sending big hugs for a great week. Em xx

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  31. Great photos - you always both look so happy and relaxed at festivals. Glad the weather was ok - I was thinking of you guys with all the rain x

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  32. Brilliant way to spend time in nature with some good food and drinks, with music that you love, fashion and togetherness all combine into one!

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  33. Sounds like you had a fabulous time!

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  34. Amor! Every outfit an absolute spectacle of fabulousness! You look so happy and relaxed and it really does look like the most civilised festival I have ever seen.

    How was James Blake?

    Love, Sarah xxx

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  35. wow - sounds amazing!! LOVE all your outfits! possible fave - during the Kanye show...

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  36. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Kanye.

    You two looked great.

    Non-swearing comedian? What's the damn point? Laugh.

    Love you, Vix!

    SB

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  37. Hey Vix! I have been waiting to see your photos and they are awesome! It looks like Jon had a killer birthday celebration with his babe! You look so smoking hot in all your unique outfits, I was happy to see a fur coat in there :) I wish we had festivals that were this nice, it actually looks like something I would love to go to.

    Thanks for so many lovely photos I really get a good sense of what it was like. Dancing is good for the soul so I'm glad to see you shake it :)

    Rock on you guys!!! Wish I was there getting my buzz on and dancing with you in the glorious sunshine.

    CHEERS!

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  38. Oh Vix, it looks absolutely brilliant. I actually fancy the Big Chill out of all the festivals and the line up looks great.

    Lovely pictures of you guys. Hope Jon had a fittingly brilliant Birthday xx

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  39. That TRULY looks like a CHILLED OUT AWESOME weekend!!!

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  40. I would love to see Steel Pulse and Chemical Brothers - proper kicking myself about not making it to their set at Glasto! The Big Chill looks like a dream and you're looking as fabulous as ever :)x

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  41. What a great post! You look adorable in the top photo especially!
    I would love to see the Chemical Bros. and am a huge fan of anything Led Zeppelin related. Looks like you had a great time and looked darn good doing it. ;-)

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  42. Looks fantastic...nice and chilled. Glad you had a great time.xx

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  43. That looks like a great time! You look fabulous & supremely happy too :o)

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  44. I've always wondered about The Big Chill. For some reason I assumed it would abound with dance-snobs, but it looks delightful!

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  45. Vix, you obviously had a fantastic time. You and Jon both look happy, relaxed and so damn cool!
    Love all your outfits - you are the Queen of Festival Chic.
    Especially love the photo of you sitting on the cane sofa with the rug, lamp and magazine rack, that's a properly civilised festival!

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  46. Che foto!!! Sicuramente molto originale e fuori dal comune !!! Baci Marcelal

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  47. Excellent photos; you both had a brilliant time judging by those.
    xxx

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  48. so glad you had a fab ( and dry) weekend, love those headbands.

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  49. really rocking weekend!!, love watching so many funny activities and nice people, and both of you look fabulous!
    Thanks for sharing all that good vibe!
    besos & music

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  50. I love that outfit in the first pic you look like a cute woodland fairy lady. =D The festival looked like a real good time. I have never been to anything like that in my lifetime so I am sure it would be absolutely amazing to me.

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  51. Looks like you had such a fab time! Even loving the yellow pack-a-mac x

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  52. Sounds like another great festival weekend for you and Jon! I’ve never known much about the Big Chill, but it sure does sound a very happy and fun place to be. I guess the name for it couldn’t be more apt xxx

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  53. My gorgeous,gorgeous festival MINX!
    You look so beautiful,chilled and happy,and I bet it wasn't just your Cher outfit that got attention!!! That sounds more like my kind of festival!G and I plan on attending one with you guys one of these days......for SURE!!
    Love you madly!
    HelgaxxxXXXxxx

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  54. Wow Vix it looks like you had a great time.

    X x

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  55. Looks like a fabulous festival, will be now put on my to do list. Love all your festival outfits :o) Scarlett x

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  56. Looks like so much fun and a happy time to be had. I really want to go to at least 1 festival next year and The Big Chill looks fab :). BB xx

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  57. Great pics and it seems you had so much fun :) Love your vintage look, beautiful ! Kisses

    http://fashionandcookies.blogspot.com

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  58. Thanks for sharing your weekend. It's been ages since I've been to a music fest.

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  59. Empire of the Sun, Crystla Fighters AND Janelle Monae?! I am officially jealous of you :D It must have been brilliant, I've never been to The Big Chill before but I think that'll have to be another one to add to my list. xxx

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  60. sounds like a fab time - and I'm soooo jealous - you saw ROBERT PLANT - one of my teenage (twenties, thirties, forties.. you get the picture!) crushes. xxx.

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  61. Looks like fun...I had a better time at Lollapalooza this weekend than I've had in years. Maybe I'm a convert to festivals!

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  62. Hi Vix! left my comment on wrong post! thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on my blog, you are such a busy lady
    You look marvelous, love the pics , you are again so cool- when is the movie coming out! the many avdentures of Vix! you devoted fan from Montreal - Ariane xx

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  63. Wow what a fabulous festival looks like a blast. I love how you said it was somewhat organized and not just a chaotic mess those sorts of events can get out of control rather quickly making it not fun for anyone! You looked smashing!! loved your choices of festival wear!! reminds me of the days when I followed the Grateful Dead back in the 90's when Jerry was still alive!! I used to love to go to outdoor shows like this but I married a guy who is not a fan of concerts ugh can you imagine!! why oh why do opposites attract lol! and Big Sigh** about Kanye West...he is always so distraught that poor guy good thing he can vent through his music even though sometimes it can be a bit much to listen to his rants~ Great pics ~Love Heather

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  64. Looks like you had a great time, fantastic pics from the festival! Glad to see festivals that are more than beer tents and mud. Makes me think I must get out more, maybe further away from home.

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  65. looks like you had a great time.I wish I could have been there. I am going to some festivals next year for sure. we will have to meet up and have some ciders xxxx

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  66. Looks like you had a fantastic time - hope all's OK where you are. Didn't look great on the telly last night. Stay safe x

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  67. So chillful... I would just go for the guys in the skimpy pants :)

    Oh Kanye, he'll probably has to look a bit closer at himself why he's much detested, but he's still got some great songs. xxx

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  68. Looks just like your type of festival. You look so adorable in your flower child gear :) Fabulous!

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  69. Love the photo of you with the laurel about your hair and the pink and square dress. Very cute. Oh, and I guess the dudes in skiveys setting up that structure. :)
    Alexandra

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  70. hello hello, sorry I've been MIA too, but down to the usual excuse of Summer holidays. I hope to take my offspring to a festival soon - either Big Chill or Bestival, so perhaps one of mine will be battering you with a glo-stick next year ;-)

    Love your pictures, it looks so peaceful and friendly, a world away from what we've had this week (although I did have a fantastic weekend). As usual you appear to be Queen of the festival fashionistas, I do love the earth lady x

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  71. You look fab in all your outfits! This looks like the kind of festival I might enjoy, I hate the huge crowds and chaos of all the others.

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  72. Vixcita,
    All your festivals outfits are gorgeous. love the magazine and sofa resting place. so beautiful amor.
    love the guys in their undies.
    you two look so adorable and happy.

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  73. Vix, I'm utterly giddy like a schoolgirl over your style. I love it!! I look forward to all of your posts.

    xoxo,

    Jamie Lee

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  74. Gawd, Bengali cooking lessons, stop it!! I like the look of this festival - doesn't look too manic, but still lots of fun, awesome music and yummy food. And you!! You look so gorgeous in all your finery - so many amazing ensembles - worth the price of a ticket just to see what you'll be wearing each day! These summer days must be such a wonderful, special time for you and Jon:)) xoxoxo

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  75. Ahhh Vix... you and Jon lead a glorious life and it's all of your own making. You are both beautiful people and you are just spectacular.

    The Big Chill is a very cool place to hang :)

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  76. The whole experience looks AMAZING. I soooo want your life! xx

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  77. Wowser, this festival looks amazing!! I've never even heard of it! You'd find me in the greenhouse! ;)

    Love the 'cher' outfit btw :D x

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  78. Wow, that looks like so much fun! I'd love to go someday.

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  79. wow,wish i was there too

    http://fashionbong.blogspot.com/

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Lots of love, Vix