When: 21st-23rd July 2017
Where: Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
Deer Shed Festival 8 is sold out. There may still be a little over three weeks to go yet and Deer Shed may well have increased its capacity this year to some 11,000 people, but once more not a single ticket can be had for Baldersby Park come the fourth weekend in July. And yet when you take a look at all that is going to be on offer at this year’s festival, this news should come as absolutely no surprise whatsoever.
The UK’s most highly regarded family festival has again put together an absolutely cracking programme of events and activities that cover most every aspect of music, arts and science that can appeal to both children and adults alike. The music line-up alone promises to be Deer Shed’s best ever yet, accurately reflected by the most exciting and diverse of choices for this year’s headline acts.
Friday night welcomes the might of Bellshill, Teenage Fanclub and not for nothing did Kurt Cobain once describe them as “the best band in the world”. The enduring sunshine, sweetness and light of their songs will find a perfect setting in this sumptuous corner of North Yorkshire countryside. The following evening and illustrating quite perfectly the continuing evolution of Deer Shed’s musical vision, the celebrated rapper, ranter and performance poet Kate Tempest will top the bill on the main stage. And in laying down a most resolute marker for what is probably the very best in literate, whimsical adult-pop, The Divine Comedy will close out the festival in the traditional late Sunday afternoon slot.
Spread tantalisingly across the sites’ four main stages is a full supporting cast, one that includes such luminaries as the Scots cult-duo Arab Strap, their fellow countrywomen, the Glaswegian grunge-pop outfit Honeyblood and continuing in the very best Scottish tradition with another artist who will be making the most welcome of returns to Deer Shed, the rather wonderful King Creosote. And that is before we even get round to talking about the various sonic pleasures of Ibibio Sound Machine, folk stalwart John Smith, the compelling American singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop and late-night DJ sets courtesy of Marc Riley, Across The Tracks and Andy Kershaw’s Global Dance Party.
The full Music line-up can be found HERE
Comedy’s place at Deer Shed has become even more firmly established with each passing year and the festival consistently gets the balance just right in managing to appeal to every member of the family. Graham Fellows once said “I can’t do John Shuttleworth for ever”, but it is an absolute delight that he is continuing with his hilarious creation of the fictional singer-songwriter and radio presenter for the time being at least. Catch him while you still can. He is one of the many great comedians who will be taking their place in Deer Shed’s Big Top Stage. Other most notable attractions include returning hero Justin Moorhouse and the hilarious stand-up Hal Cruttenden
Deer Shed’s full Comedy line-up is HERE
Another part of Deer Shed Festival that comes highly recommended is its Spoken Word and Literary feature. The Guardian columnist, political activist and revered author of ‘Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class’ and ‘The Establishment – And How They Get Away With It’ Owen Jones is one of this year’s most notable keynote speakers, as are his fellow Guardian contributors, the American journalist Tim Dowling and Stuart Heritage who writes in the newspaper about film, TV and music. Other highlights will include the appearances of Ken Scott – the British record producer/engineer and a man who is widely known for being one of the five main engineers for the Beatles – and the last surviving member of David Bowie’s seminal band the Spiders From Mars, Woody Woodmansey, who will both participate in what should be an illuminating and vastly entertaining audience Q&A.
The Spoken Word and Literary line-up can be found HERE
But Deer Shed would not be the truly wonderful festival that it has become without children and there is a raft of incredible entertainment just lying in wait in Baldersby Park for kids of all ages. Built around this year’s central theme of The Wilderwild – named after a woodland area adjacent to the festival site that is being explored for the very first time at Deer Shed – there will be an extensive range of workshops, science programmes in the newly elongated 200 foot long science tent, cartoons and films for all the family to watch, storytelling, sports and even more activities and magical experiences than you can shake a proverbial stick at.
It really is going to be the biggest and best Deer Shed Festival yet.
For all of the information on Deer Shed Festival 8 please go HERE
