Festival Life - Womad, 2024

We're back! Thanks for your comments on my last post which I'd scheduled to publish while we were away at Womad. I wanted to share our adventures in Greece before they became ancient history. 

Anyway, on to Womad - the festival of world music and dance, established by Genesis's Peter Gabriel and now in its 44th year (although only the second year for us). We set off last Tuesday morning, just after 7am, arriving at Charlton Park in Wiltshire a couple of hours later. Once accredited, we donned our hi-viz and were directed to our pitch which, like last year, was directly opposite the main campsite entrance, in the shadow of the Big Wheel.

Nine hours later set up was complete and, as the gates weren't due to open to the public until 12pm on Thursday, meant Wednesday could be a lazy day.

There's something magical about a festival before the punters arrive, a hive of activity with an air of expectancy. 

After catching up with our beautiful trader friend, Caroline - along with her husband James & their son, Thomas - and acquainting ourselves with our new neighbours, we had a wander around the site.

Caroline & James run Pilgrims Fair Trade - visit their website HERE.

She's very generously gifted me something amazing - I'll share it very soon! 

Thursday dawned and, with great enthusiasm, we rolled up the shopfront ready for the onslaught.

Jon's wearing a vintage Canadian cowboy shirt with his tartan skinnies and I'm in a Jer-Sea 1970s maxi dress (made in Sweden).

And, unlike Glastonbury, I remembered to photograph (and video!) the stall. 

After a couple of dry and humid days, Thursday was truly horrible, cold, grey, blustery and wet. Trade was painfully slow as most of the festival goers (wisely) opted to stay on the campsite.

 

At 10pm we rolled down the shopfront and had an early night, hopeful that things would improve.

 Friday was much better - both for weather and for sales. Jon's wearing a Diesel shirt (bought from a car boot sale 20 years ago) and I'm in my sparkly 1970s Lurex maxi skirt, a gift from Polyester Princess, Ann & husband Jos, last Summer.

It was lovely to catch up with customers we'd met last year, like Juan from Oaxaca who was very happy to spot this Adidas Mexico track top.

We met fellow West Midlanders, Paul and Celeste, at Beautiful Days a couple of years ago. They're possibly the most stylish festival goers we've ever met and we're already looking forward to having a day out with them in the not too distant future. 

Despite the glorious heat in the day, Womad got chilly by night. Excited to see Young Fathers  headlining the main stage, we layered up in readiness.  

Jon's wearing a Carhartt jacket and I'm in a vintage psychedelic maxi dress by Bernshaw (both via Vinted).

Kinky by night.

So much for the best laid plans of mice and men, every time we went to shut up the shop, customers kept coming in (and spending money!) so we only caught the end of Young Fathers set...but the bit we saw was fantastic.

Saturday's sunshine had us up early and we were open and selling by 9.30am (we usually open at 10am).

Jon's wearing a 1960s Luvisca leisure shirt with his shorts and I'm in another vintage Bernshaw maxi, along with some earrings made from Indian upholstery tassels.

Long-time readers may recognise the fabulous Michelle (aka Veshoevius) who used to blog at The Taxonomy of my Wardrobe. She's got a wardrobe to die for so I was thrilled when she found a couple of garments on the stall to add to her collection as did her gorgeous girl (who's wearing the vintage shirred 1970s dress she bought from us!)

It was after midnight when we rolled down the shopfront on Saturday Sunday and, as all the stages in the main arena had already closed, we headed to the Arboretum for a late night wander.

Despite the late-ish night we were up and open before 10am the following day and the weather went from glorious to even more glorious.

The first outing for this amazing 1960s gauzy cotton skirt, made in Florence by Princess. Jon's snazzy shirt was a Glastonbury purchase.

This lady came back to show us the 1960s Tricel dress she'd bought from us the previous day, three people had already complimented her on it.

Scorchio!!

It's that gorgeous pair again! Jon loved the jacket Paul was wearing on Friday night so much that we did a deal to make it his. How fabulous is Celeste's dress...a 1960s maxi with a posh Fenwick's label! 

Jon wasn't the only one who came back with new (to him) clothes....I'll show you mine soon!

After rolling the shopfront down for the final time, we bagged up the remaining stock and collapsed into bed. The following morning we were up at 6am and managed to take down the stall and pack the van in a record 5 hours. 

And, as a special treat, we stopped off at Gloucester Services for lunch...posh pies all round (spicy  Bombay spinach & chickpea for me!)

Right...12 days to catch up with Blogland, to celebrate Lord Jon's birthday and to restock ready for Beautiful Days.  (What a lineup!)

See you soon. xxx