Tucked away in the countryside of Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, a short drive away from Thirsk, Deer Shed Festival is one for families. Getting lost in its crowds, you can be forgiven for thinking the children outnumber the adults as they run wild across its increasingly yellowing fields.
Review and Photos by Graeme Smith
The festival organisers are, of course, astutely aware of this and put on plenty of entertaining events for those of a younger mind. There’s plenty on for the adults too, and Deer Shed has a reputation for capturing artists on the up and giving them a stage on which to grow their audience.
Friday
Friday at Deer Shed was all about this. On the main stage, we enjoyed sets from Liz Lawrence and Jalen Ngonda. Man/Woman/Chainsaw announced themselves with a blistering performance set apart by their unique violin-enhanced rock. Halifax’s Ellur, who had the poison chalice of going on first, got another chance with an acoustic set around the campfire of the Wilderwild. It was a particular highlight.
The In The Dock Stage offered a more intimate experience, one fully embraced by rapper Oneda, rock band Pillow Queens, and theatrical electronic artist Jessica Winter, another highlight.
Of course, festivals need their household names too. Alex Horne and The Horne Section packed out the Bigtop Stage while headliners The Coral proved a real crowd pleaser with their earworm psych rock.
And this was all just day one.
Saturday
After a late night, some festival goers might have fancied a lie-in, but there wasn’t much chance of that when Backbeat Samba took to the campsite to rouse them awake with their drums. The arena was perhaps a relief in comparison, where Katie Gregson-Macleod serenaded them with a melancholic acoustic set while TinyUmbrellas charmed on the intimate Wilderwild Stage.
It’s quite a nice set-up in the arena. Punters can ping back and forth between the Main Stage at the bottom of the hill and the In The Dock Stage at the top (and pass by the real ale tent as they do). As the day progressed, they swapped their reusable coffee cups for reusable pint glasses, and the acoustic sets were swapped out for the swaggering rock of Picture Parlour, the lively electronic rap of Frozemode, and the sax-infused anti-establishment rock of Deadletter.
Most photogenic performer of the day had to be the front man of Baba Ali who knew how to strike a pose while shyest performer was one half of Kokoko! who hid behind a facemask and at one point behind a t-shirt. She Drew The Gun fired up the Lodge Stage, Personal Trainer and Los Bitchos wowed on the In The Dock stage, and BC Camplight lit up the Main Stage in the late evening sun.
Last word went to Bombay Bicycle Club who can certainly still pull a crowd. Last minute births and line-up changes didn’t stop them ending Saturday on a high.
Sunday
What better to start Sunday than with a bit of disco? The somewhat misplaced Vanity Fairy made the most of her 11am audience on the In The Dock stage to set a high bar for the day. Melin Melyn kept that energy going on the mainstage, but this was the third day of the festival; everyone needed a bit of a rest. Step forward chilled sets by Aayushi and Bess Atwell to provide the perfect soundtrack.
They were interspersed with a bit of energy from Main Stage rockers The Tubs and In The Dock’s Home Counties. The latter would have pleased the queen given the number of KORGs they had on stage (sorry). Also In The Dock were O. who proved a highlight thanks to their unique and barnstorming combination of baritone sax and drums.
As the weekend reached its final leg, it went out with a bang. Stornoway, Madmadmad and The Go! Team all nailed their sets yet it was Fat Dog that was the name on everyone’s lips. It was clear to see why. From rubber masks to crab dances to energetic folk punk, they had it all. They warmed the crowd up perfectly for the weekend’s final Main Stage headliner CMAT. The Mercury prize nominee did not disappoint with her first appearance at the top of the festival’s bill.
If you’re brave enough to take your kids with you to a festival, then Deer Shed’s the one for you. It’s combination of distractions for them and top quality music for you means everyone will go away happy.
Deer Shed Festival took place at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 July 2024.