Review: Stendhal Festival of Arts 2015

Over the hills and far away nestled in the Limavady countryside the behemoth that is Stendhal festival of Arts. A place that, I imagine, lies quiet for 363 days a year. But on the second weekend in August springs into life with over 300 performers, A big top circus tent, 10 covered stages and too many food vans, camping tents and art installations to mention.

The festival is spread out over 2 massive fields, each one big enough to be a festival in its own right.  In the first field is the main stage and a massive area called Annan’s arch. This was filled with giants, their hands crawling from the land, a wizard and horse stood guard, a massive chair and stage to “sing for your swalle” all contained within.  There was also a children’s area that had all sorts of arts and craft and free activities for the kids, nappy changing and breast feeding area was included as well. Basically an oasis for families!  Off this field was the camping area flanked by 2 humongous teddy bears (I think) made of hay bales!

Leading down from the main field was an even larger field that had too many stages to visit them all! We visited the Karma Valley big top, a circus tent with luminescent plants growing the middle.  Here we caught Ryan McMullan singing up a storm. On a bare stage, just him and a guitar and a soulful voice that seemed perfect for a place called Karma Valley. Walking past bungee trampolines and mechanical bulls, stages full of gospel choirs, a drama society caravan and eventually the Air tent. The rain came in heavy short bursts and occasionally longer lighter ones, provisions had been made and walkways and an insane amount of hay ensured that the terrain under foot remained pretty firm, the NI weather strikes, but these guys were prepared! As we passed a giant CND on the hill and a sign for a MAZE that seemed to point towards the Garden Shed stage, which was a stage made out of …you guessed it – a Garden Shed. We stumbled across a recreation of Alice IN wonderland, marvellously done, with a full table for tea, playing cards everywhere and full-size cutouts of Alice and friends – It really did feel like you were going down the rabbit hole. Off from this was the Woodland stage where nestled in amongst the trees was an amazing harpist called Ursula Burns who sang curse word laden hilarious songs as she played majestically on her massive harp and seemed to get funnier and funnier as her set proceeded.

As the rain came we nestled ourselves at the main stage where we caught the excellent Opera from Maria & Conor, some indie folk pop from the excellent female fronted LORE and, my pick of the weekend, The Whereabouts.  The Whereabouts were like a young Rolling Stones meets Razor Lights and looked resplendent in their suits as they rock and rolled through the rain and had everyone toe tapping in the covered viewing area.  Going as a family that wasn’t camping we were only there for the day, but everyone from Grandparents to little baby Max (11 months old) really enjoyed it and we didn’t even see everything that Stendhal had to offer.  The good thing was that we were all able to find different bits and pieces to interest us, some individually and some as a whole group. As is the case with NI the weather played a part but the provisions made meant that we still had a good time and will be looking forward to seeing what Stendhal has in store for next year!

You can see all the photos from our photographer Neil Carey right here as well.