Festival Preview: Sunflower Fest

Festival season has well and truly hit and Sunflower Fest is fast approaching. Running from the 22nd to the 25th of August, this three day festival boasts 5 stages and 80 bands playing at Tubby’s Farm in Hillsborough. As with quite a lot of festivals these days, there’s even a handy Android App. Unfortunately there’s no iPhone app this year, so you’ll have to make do with the Clash Finder, which is actually pretty handy.

Here’s the line-up for the weekend (more info on the bands playing can be found here):

Friday 22nd August

The Orb, King Kong Company, The Bonnevilles, The Rupture Dogs, Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass (Japan), Peter McCauley (Rams’ Pocket Radio), The Twisted Sisters, The Dandy Horses, Alison McGrath Band, Dirty Words, WOB , Zombified, Smoking Tongue, Little Miss Stakes, Suzanne Savage, Echo Raptors, Runaway Bears, Patrick Gardiner, Ezekiel Boom, New Secret Weapon, Chelsey Chambers, Siobhan Day, New Wine.

Saturday 23rd Aug

The Answer, Grainne Duffy Band, Pocket Billiards, Silhouette, Screaming Eagles, Sal Vitro, Michael Mormecha (Mojo Fury), Love Street, My Fellow Sponges, Radioactive Grandma, Scorpion Jack, Run From The Cure, Stormzone , Million $ Reload, Nasa Assassin, Henry Cluney (Stiff Little Fingers), Punch Face Champions, Baleful Creed, The Sandrunners, Matthew Malcom, Villanova Junction, Lipstik Lizards.

Sunday 24th Aug

Mojo Fury, The Barley Mob, The Hot Sprockets, The Wonder Villains, Fox E & The Good Hands, Linley Hamilton & Taylor Made Quartet , Amanda St John, Magwere, Mutefish,  James Gillespie, Tracy Bruen, The Defects, Master & Dog , R51 , Loris, Go Swim ,Randall Stephen Hall, Afresh, FlamencoNI, Ryan McMullan, Big Belfast Choir.

As much as we love #NIMusic, Sunflower Fest isn’t just all about the bands, there’s loads of fun stuff to do too.

• Lighthouse Bliss Village run by Siobhan Bogues, founder of the Lighthouse Centre. During Sunflowerfest Siobhan will lead yoga and meditation sessions and offer Reiki sessions along with workshops throughout the weekend.
• The Kid Zone which boasts fun for all the family.There will be face painting, story telling, games, dance classes, pupeteers and hair braiding, alongside some more unusual activities such as willow sculpture, fairy house building, and circus workshops. 
• The Enchanted Glade will tell the Irish legend of The Childen of Lir in a mysterious and magical way.

Don’t worry there’s still time to grab your friends, buy some tickets, pack up your tent and head off to this fantastic festival. Remember, Sunflower Fest is good for you!