CULTURE CLUB
Where the magic happens
After the festival’s unexpected return last summer, we find out what’s in store for this July’s Secret Garden Party When Secret Garden Party announced its 2017 event would be its last ever, festivalgoers were dismayed. For 15 years, the event had been a beacon of creativity and anti-commercialism on an increasingly crowded festival scene; an exhilarating three-day party where silliness and hedonism were celebrated above all and guests (or Gardeners as they’re known) were placed front and centre in the unfolding spectacle. On announcing the event’s grand finale, founder Freddie Fellowes promised an almighty send-off, which was more than delivered in spite
THE PARTY RETURNS The fun is back for yet another year, this time with a charity focus
20 - 23 July
of some pretty biblical weather – and then all was quiet for nearly five years. “We genuinely thought we’d ended it!” exclaims Freddie, also known as the Head Gardener. “It was the logical conclusion at that stage. It had always been my intention to go out with a bang rather than slowly fade away. We’d hit a real high, but felt we were in danger of losing our identity to our audience, so we thought it would be a great way to cement the legacy.” Something changed for Freddie during the third national lockdown in early 2021, when he learnt about a film celebrating Secret Garden Party and its
take to the main stage, along with the usual array of immersive entertainment to explore elsewhere around the site. A big innovation for Secret Garden Party 2.0 has been its embracing of a social enterprise model, which will see the festival commit 65% of profits to good causes. “We’re working on the theory that it’s a massive privilege to be able to work in arts – and in some ways it’s the preserve of the privileged, in whatever form that takes. But Secret Garden Party is something that’s brought people
seismic impact on the festival scene. The film’s distributor reached out to discuss a screening on-site, suggesting a mini Garden Party to launch the film. “I had one of those moments, and just thought – do you know what, it would be easier to do a whole festival,” he recalls. A sign-up page was floated on the website to gauge interest, which racked up 70,000 sign-ups in the space of a couple of weeks. “We got picked up in the momentum and excitement. Having been in
“We’ve also got some fun little secret venues coming in this year,” shares Freddie. “One of our standouts will be Khapha – a double-decker bus with full video mapping on it and a really great selection of artists, but I’m most excited about some of the artwork and stage design this year. There are some wonderful contributions.” “The music line-up is probably the best we’ve ever had – in 20 years of doing this, I’ve never had my first choices for headliner, main support and second support all come in! As a programmer, it’s a dream come true.” Away from the main stage, Freddie recommends seeking out hip-hop trio Kneecap and Warhaus, while Secret Garden Party fans will be eagerly awaiting the return of stalwarts like the Saturday night fireworks, the Sunday paint fight and the hidden sunflower field. “Really, it’s about the most fun you can legally have in a field with your clothes on,” laughs Freddie. “And without, actually. In fact, clothing is definitely optional…”
lockdown, it suddenly put closing the festival in a very different perspective. It almost felt like quite a spoilt move… and we knew we could do it again and do it better.” Tickets sold out within two hours on a
together and healed people, so we wanted to formalise how we perceive ourselves as a force for good by putting the company into a social enterprise format, dedicating a
Secret Garden Party 2023 will see iconic acts
large percentage of our profits to organisations working towards the same charitable aims as us. “We’re trying to extend to anybody who doesn’t have the privilege,” he continues. “Be that the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, lost or simply unlucky – the chance to work and rehabilitate through the creative arts.” This summer’s festival will see a return for favourite stages such as The Pagoda, Chai Wallahs and Feast of Fools, as well as welcoming new concepts such as The Vibrary.
Sunday morning in late 2021, allaying any fears Freddie and his team may have had that the once loyal Gardeners might have moved on. “Last year was like hanging onto the tail of a screaming comet!” he laughs. “It was exhilarating – and one hell of a ride. And it was fun enough that we want to take it forward into its new chapter.” Back in its beautiful Abbots Ripton site this July, Secret Garden Party 2023 will see iconic acts like The Libertines, Underworld and Fat Freddy’s Drop
Tickets are available now from secretgardenparty.com, priced at £250 per person (plus a booking fee)
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JUNE 2023 17
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