REVIEW: PLYMOUTH VOLKSFEST 2011
Newnham Park was the humble abode for the fourth annual Volksfest festival during May bank holiday weekend, which provided musical entertainment as well as the impressive Volkswagen scene. Festival goers of all ages had travelled from all over the country to get involved in the fun come rain or shine (in this case rain!) From male dressed sparkly fairies, pink bunnies with Nike hi tops and the Village People to neon coloured ravers everyone made the most of their weekend, where you could dance to the likes of prestigious acts such as Toploader and reggae and ska fuelled Gentleman’s Dub Club who headlined the festival on a total high. Mad Dog Mcrea stole the show on the first night with their renowned energetic set, which brought together a fantastic crowd and rammed the Big Top Tent to its full capacity.
The drizzly rain certainly did not interrupt any of the festival shenanigans and the atmosphere was thriving throughout the weekend. Volksfest offered an array of entertainment and quirky stalls during the day where you could indulge in a funky fish pedicure for your tootsies if you were feeling a bit fragile, young families could enjoy a huge family arena including bouncy castle fun and arts and crafts and among the crowds a mobile Thai Yoga Massage lady was available to rub away any aches or pains from your festival strains. Not forgetting the Eat Crunchy Pig food stall, which supplied succulent hog roast sandwiches if you were feeling fairly peckish!
The campsite was situated on the top of the hill overlooking the festival and the array of colourful quirky Campervans. There was even sightings of a streaker, which got the whole camp cheering and going mental. He finally resumed full clothed after the kind daisy-chain wearing girls returned his clothes! The vibes at Volksfest made you feel like you were part of a community; with so many friendly people, families, dogs and downright ravers enjoying every minute. For those football fans who attended the festival and feared they would miss out on the Champions League final the DJ tent showed the entire match, which attracted an excited crowd of several football supporters. The Plymouth Calendar girls even made an appearance looking every inch their best to help raise money for charity.
Volksfest offered a vibrant weekend and a tiptop start to the 2011 festival season. With the tickets priced quite reasonably you certainly got what you paid for. There could be room for improvement when it came to the after party- the music drew to a close just past midnight so there was little opportunity to finish off each night in party- festival style. However taken into consideration this was a family festival with young children it is something that possibly could not he helped. So to conclude, that would be Plympton’s very own Volksfest completed for another triumphant year. I must say, one of the ladies who was organising the festival ‘five hour sleep in 72’ certainly paid off and here is a to another banging Volksfest in 2012!
Words: Jess Board
