GroovyFestival 2024 at Hillcote Country Club was an event that stood out for its sense of community, music, and the beautiful venue that hosted it. The festival began with emotional reunions, as attendees connected with old friends, creating a warm atmosphere from the start. Performances by Nick Parker, The Jess Silk Trio, Sam Draisey, Shanghai Treason, and The Endings captivated the audience, each act bringing their unique flair to the stage.

Rushing to get to Groovy Festival despite the traffic, we sadly miss the first few acts but this means that our Day One opening act is The Jess Silk Trio, and what a way to start a brilliant weekend. Silk sings the songs that make our soul soar; the themes of solidarity, socialism and what it means to be a festival family are one of the reasons why events like Groovy Festival are so important. In a world where some of the loudest voices spread hate, the Jess Silk Trio have the crowd singing along with songs of hope.

Silk’s sublime vocals are compelling as she passionately performs her political poetry, accompanied by Ewan, who is faultless and probably relieved when they get past the point when the trombone sometimes appears to blast ‘notes’ in his direction without that ‘distinct’ sound. Matty makes me want to buy a bodhran because he weaves brilliant beats throughout, but given that I can’t even clap in time and Matty is awesome, I probably ought to give this a miss.

Silk perfectly encapsulates what it means to be part of the grassroots community in ‘This Is Our Home’. We are at an amazing festival, surrounded by people who we consider to be family, watching one of the best acts in the circuit and we know that whatever other burdens we may be carrying, there are people here who cares and who can give us all a voice. The circle forms during ‘If Home Is Where The Heart Is’ and I look around this group of people and feel lucky to be part of something so special. Silk speaks to our hearts and minds with those marvelous melodies and we feel empowered, emotional and exuberant. The Jess Silk Trio definitely deserve a cider (or ten) for reminding us that there’s always those same four chords and a battered guitar whenever we need our spirits raising.

Will Gosling, on the Yellow Feather Stage delivered a thoughtful and impressive bluesy set that promises a bright future. We haven’t come across Gosling before but we certainly hope to catch him again.

Sam Draisey played the Yellow Feather Stage and it was blindingly obvious he could have filled the main room….twice over. This songsmith has captured the hearts and minds of the entire scene and it is clear that his songs resonate with all generations. What Sam does so well is highlight social injustices but then offers solutions; this is beyond protest singing and more akin to a how to manual of how we can fix the world. Maybe we could start by getting on our chuffin’ bikes?

Nick Parker’s charm and wit shone through his set, especially with May Nard’s thoughtful photo collaboration during “Terry and June.” Treating the crowd to a healthy chunk of the new album, a feat that few artists are able to get away with, and even Nick is surprised when he realises how many new songs he is playing given the reception, you start to appreciate how unbelievably skilled a songwriter Parker is and just why so many, including other musicians, revere him. Maison D’etre is such a beautiful and relatable song. We don’t just say that because he dedicated the song to us, it is a love song that only Parker could have penned. His style is swimming in charm and wit. In a similar way, Half of the Moon is a track that pulls you in with not just plenty of humour but a sublimely sweet lovesong.

The Endings are a high octane, raucous band that could get a crowd dancing til the sun rose the next day. I’m pretty sure if they had the chance they this is exactly what they would do – and frankly I don’t think anyone would want to stop them. Their Celtic folk fusion has the festival family, myself included despite an exhausting week, bouncing around to their belting melodies and singing along to their brilliant songs. Every time I see The Endings, I have a huge smile on my face and so have all the other people around me. The mesmerising musicianship combines with a lively lyrical delivery which guarantees as always that we end the set exhausted but thrilled to have caught this captivating band’s set.

There’s no rest for the wicked as Shanghai Treason close the evening with their unique flatcap banjo punk sound. They are fresh, charming and full of energy and enthusiasm and have all the hallmarks of a band that will hook you immediately with their songs. The newer songs have the crowd cheering as loudly as their older songs, as Shanghai Treason show that they are a band who will dominate your top ten list of bands that you will stalk…I mean, go to see…as often as possible because you just can’t get these songs out of your head. An absolutely storming set has us all stomping along and the crowd reaction is thunderous.

From the outset, this does not feel like being at a music festival, more being at a large family gathering where your friends are both on the stage and in the crowd and it just so happens that the friends on stage are insanely talented.

The venue, known for its intimate events, provided a perfect backdrop with good food and well-priced drinks, though the Rattler deserved a cautious approach. As day one wrapped up, the high spirits and merriment among the festi-family foreshadowed more joy for the days ahead. GroovyFestival 2024 filled a much-needed gap, offering a gathering space during a season sparse with festivals, and for that, every attendee felt deeply grateful.

Day 2 is a nonstop who’s who of great independent music. This review could be several pages long just trying to describe the amount of talent crammed into one day. in one day alone, we had a feast of Joe Solo, B Sydes, Sam Tucker, Tabitha Wild, Andrea Kenny, Phil Cudworth, Warren Ireland, Not Quite Dead Yet (+Tromboni) Wilswood Buoys, Dawin’s Rejects, Matt Johnson and the Reprobates (+Tromboni) Herbie Jack and Headsticks. I mean – seriously, how do you write about a day that includes THAT much talent? I don’t think it is possible.

So here are some of the highlights for us:

Phil Cudworth delivers a set that combines humour, politics and great songs.He convinces us that we want to stay away from London and I really hope that one day we do get a Disney Princess for the alternative kid. The lyrics are witty and wonderful and the laughter is plentiful. Cudworth shows us that an acoustic guitar is a mighty weapon when wielded with a sardonic sneer at the rich and their concepts of what life should be when we all know that there are better ways to live your life than capitalist consumerism.

Tabitha Wild is completely unique on the circuit, and is a huge hit with the festival goers. she is fresh, witty and scarily, acutely sharp. Wild sings songs that are either hilarious, heartfelt or just completely relatable, which for me means the ode to biscuits, complete with Jaffa Cake accompaniment, which quite frankly I think should be a prerequisite for all bands ever in future. Bad boyfriends are castigated cleverly and wasps are revealed for the stinging wankers that they are against joyful ukulele melodies. Wild is an absolute joy to watch and has a magnetism that was evident throughout the performance. We can’t wait to see her again.

Sam Tucker played a very time limited set having double booked himself for a family wedding miles away. Typical Tucker! He surprises everyone with a guest slot of May Nard on harmonica, and, although not as shining a debut as the Great Tromboni when he exploded onto the scene at Ey Up Mi Duck festival with Jess Silk in 2023, he does entertain the crowd nonetheless. I am not sure whether this is the start of a new project for May Nard or whether this is a one off but I am sure everyone would support his musical interpretations.

Andrea Kenny has a vocal delivery that is stratospheric and stunning. Her emotive songs soar with emotion and this resonance with members of the audience who are moved to tears. Her back catalogue with The Brandy Thieves is also incorporated into her solo shows but the newer songs also have people singing along. The powerful pathos that resonates in these songs is testament to the superb songwriting; Kenny wears her heart on her sleeve and shares it with the crowd with a raw intensity that is incredibly moving. Every performance is memorable and it is easy to see why she has garnered such ardent followers.

The Wilswood Buoys offered a stunning and proficient guitar led musical interlude. The prowess is equally awe inspiring and enviable. Their songs are a fresh take on trad folk for the modern day with a foot stomping intensity and ear worm songs that mean their vinyl is constantly on my turntable. Vocal harmonies are pitch perfect and I try not to ruin this by singing along, but it is impossible because the songs are so damn catchy. The duo bring something new to the circuit with their unique sound and their charismatic performance and their duelling guitars have to be seen to be truly appreciated. Indeed, this is one of the beauties of Groovy Festival. The plethora of performances never feels repetitive because the acts have been carefully chosen to offer so many different styles and sounds, with the consistency of the standard of these acts secured by the organisers. The Wilswood Buoys are a good example of this as quite a few people told us that hadn’t seen them before but were blown away by their performance.

Joe Solo on The Yellow Feather Stage was electric. Joe is one of the most beloved artists on the scene, and The Yellow Feather Stage was packed to the rafters for his performance. Anyone not able to fit in really missed out. Joe is so engaging and leaves you feeling optimistic about what, quite frankly, is a shit state of affairs.

Warren Ireland takes a looping pedal and uses it to create the most mind-blowing music with his guitar and vocals. We sing along to bouncy favourites but the new songs are truly tremendous and it is great to see a couple performed tonight. Obviously, singing along to ‘Crazy’ and ‘Money’ will always be a highlight of any Ireland gig because, quite frankly, those songs are bloody brilliant but the new songs are also something very special. ‘Paddy Says’ is a sublime sing-a-long and the melodious tracks that are going to be featured on the new album are guaranteed to put a massive smile on the faces of followers old and new. To quote the man himself, you definitely want to ‘promise that’ you’re ‘here to stay’ because some tremendous tracks are in the pipeline.

B Sydes, also performing on The Yellow Feather Stage, delivers a shot-laden set that’s as entertaining as always. Ben is building a loyal following with his powerful voice and stunning lyrics, marking him as a standout in a day filled with unforgettable performances.

If you want to experience a bunch of musicians with an absolute passion for performance that embrace the very core ideology of punk, which is get up and perform like it is your life’s wish, you need to see Not Quite Dead Yet. With exuberant punky folk covers, the band had this Stiff Little Fingers fan dancing throughout and even pogoing during the eponymous track, despite my doctor’s recent declaration that I need to ‘appreciate my body’s limitations’. Screw that! This band demands that you dance. The many musicians perform brilliantly, with Ewan even managing to stay focused despite the arrival of the purple menace with The Great Tromboni and the ‘interesting’ noises that emanated from it, which even I have to admit was pretty hilariously brilliant. In fact, the joy that spread throughout the room as we laughed along was palpable and again, encapsulates why we come to these events because we know that we can leave our troubles at the door and find solace in music. Not Quite Dead Yet are the very personification of the happiness that playing and listening to live music embodies and I sincerely hope that they take The Great Tromboni on tour with them, somewhere far, far away where I don’t have to hear him ‘improve his notes’.

Darwin’s Rejects are going from strength to strength; they are maturing into a serious contender on the scene. From humble beginnings playing cover songs to writing their own material. Their own stuff is incredible. They have blossomed into a mighty act that really should not be missed.

Matt Johnson often puts himself down as ‘winging it’, and I have no doubt there’s an element of that, but this band is like no other. How many bands can have you laughing in one song and the next you’re crying? There is so much skill and talent in this band they deserve to be playing far, far more than they have done recently. If it were up to me I would have these guys on every festival. The crowd is heaving and so I reckon they would agree.

Herbie Jack brought high-octane reggae with belting brass and superb musicianship to the festival and in essence, really put the groove into Groovy Festival. It isn’t quite the Summer yet but Herbie Jack’s helped us to remember what it is like to feel the sunshine with their vibrant sound and dance inducing rhythms.

Headsticks – there’s probably not a lot we can say about this awesome band that hasn’t been said. I have lost count of how many times I have seen them and every time feels like the first time; their catalogue is becoming almost as big as their merch stand. Every song is performed with energy and voracity as though it is their latest single.

This must be one of the most professional bands around – they know exactly how to craft a set and how to get a crowd going. Lyrically, some of the most hard hitting songs around have been penned by this banned. Tyger Tyger, My Own War, Dying for a Lie, the list goes on.

Headsticks are the next evolution of punk; thought provoking, energising and just damned entertaining. Headsticks are the crown jewel in what is already a treasure chest of music this weekend. This is our first, and hopefully not last, Groovy Festival and we were blown away.

Independent festivals are not easy to organise and run. I do not envy anyone going through the process and yet despite the huge amounts of work that go into running a festival, this one is trailblazing. This festival is a blueprint for how to put together the most insane party around. This is how festivals should be done, with thought and with love. It is clear that every detail has been thought through carefully; the timing of the acts leaving enough time between for breaks and drinks etc but short enough that they can fit an incredible amount of music into one day, the layout of the venue so that there is plenty of space and not sold to fill every inch of capacity so it is comfortable, even the choice of venue. You would be forgiven for expecting with so few toilets and so many people that it might get… unpleasant but it is clear the venue look after the premises carefully and at all points this venue remains beautiful.

I am in awe of what Julie has managed to put together in this event. It magically straddles the line between an intimate party of family and friends and an awesome music festival.