Set in a stunning 19th century mansion near Hereford and the Welsh/English border, Troyfest kicks off the festival season for its 4th year next weekend. Proclaimed as a boutique festival that feels like a fusion between a small festival and a cracking house party, 2015 sees them progressing even further, including acts like Gilles Peterson, Mr. Scruff and Molotov Jukebox to the bill.
Beginning as a joint birthday party back in 2011 – 350 people strong and accompanied by bunch of local DJs and bands – the roots of Troyfest are organic and wholesome. Baskerville Hall, which has seen early incarnations of Green Man and Big Chill pass through it, were so elated by the initial event that they invited the crew back the following year. Interest was spread by word-of-mouth, without any large scale commercial involvement.
This year sees over 70 acts perform across 4 stages. From dusk til dawn, Troyfest will spin out a spread of musical styles, ranging anywhere from house to drum’n’bass DJs, to Afrobeat, Hip Hop, brass bands, indie, and ‘filthy rock n’ roll’.
Others included to this years line-up include By The Rivers, Bodhi, Smerin’s Antisocial Club, Pink Oculus, Ron Basejam, Too Many T’s, Zen Hussies, Subculture Sage, Hermigervill, Big Swing Soundsystem and Smokey Joe & The Kid.
The festival also opens its arms up to a variety of comedic, theatrical, cabaret, art and film screenings, with short plays by Dirty Protest set to screen. As if that couldn’t suffice, they have also provided (purely for the attendees pleasure) a silent disco, burlesque life drawing, a charity paint fight, garden games, yoga and massage. Oh, and it’s fancy dress.
Cone Magazine will be attending the event and will provide full coverage (at least as we experience it). If you are interested in learning more from the man himself who pioneered the festival (Troy) you can listen to the 100% Bristol Music Show on BCFM, who interviewed him last week. Head here to listen back (second link down, 20/04/2015 at 8pm).
This is going to be good. Real good. See you there.