Up The Junction - Indietracks 2015

Its not often I can claim to be appropriately dressed but when I spotted a pair of Thomas The Tank Engine curtains in a charity shop the other day I knew I had to make them into a dress for Indietracks, the unique music festival combining steam trains with Indiepop music which takes place at Swanwick Junction at the Midland Railway Museum in Derbyshire.

If ever a dress was the centre of attention then this was the one, small children stood transfixed pointing out Edward, Thomas and James, grown men became misty eyed nostalgics recalling the bedroom curtains of their childhood and I even got a walk-on part in Indietracks, The Movie.

This weekend was our fifth Indietracks and our third as traders. 

The first train pulled into the station at 6pm, delivering a legion of excited Indie kids to this year's festival.

Within minutes those incredible deadstock 1970s brown & yellow Dunlop shoes got snapped up (and we'd only bought them on Thursday!)

Friday night was filthy, the rain was torrential and the temperatures were more akin to Winter than the height of Summer. Indietracks has a multi-national clientèle and desperately cold Southern Europeans & Californians were snapping up cosy jumpers, scarves and wool trousers.

Fortunately Saturday was dry and warmer. I even took my coat off for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

Business was brisk and the sunset was spectacular. After shutting up shop we popped down to the Indie disco in the passenger shed and had a dance, proudly admiring the number of people dressed in vintage clothes they'd purchased from us over the years.

Sunday was appalling, torrential rain and high winds. The dress I'd packed was sleeveless and reluctant to spend another day in my coat I borrowed the 1970s Martin Emprex quilted maxi off the rails (I'd worn it at Cornbury a fortnight ago). 

Jon donned the 1950s llama wool overcoat I'd found for £5 on a second-hand stall on the market a few weeks ago, got papped by the press and published in the Nottingham Post. (HERE)

Courtesy of the Nottingham Post

The bag of White Zinfandel we opened at 11am certainly helped to take the chill away.

Not that a bit of inclement weather puts off the hardcore festival goers. 

Between acts on the main stage we cranked up the volume on our boombox and danced the day away.

After shutting up shop for the final time we headed off to see the incredible The Go! Team. We first saw them at the Big Chill back in 2006 and if anything they were better than ever. 

We were up bright and early to pack up & dismantle the stall and drive back to wet and windy Walsall. 

We've got three days at home and then we're off to Dubtoberfest.

See you soon!