Blissfields

Blissfields is an annual music festival in Hampshire, England run by Paul and Mel Bliss who also run Blissfields Records. Founded in 2001 at Bradley Farm, Bradley, near Alresford, the festival took a break in 2008. In 2011 the festival moved to a new site in Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott near Winchester.

History

The first Blissfields event was in 2001 when Paul and Mel Bliss invited a few bands to play at Bradley Farm, near Alresford. Starting with just approximately 70 attendees, Blissfields was held again in subsequent years, slowly increasing in size. In 2005, with increased health and safety concerns and license demands, there was a charge to camp. In 2007, Scouting for Girls headlined and a second stage called the Stage Bus was added. In the same year, Blissfields was named the Best Small Festival in the UK Festival Awards.[1] Restrictions at Bradley Farm meant that no more than 1,000 people could attend.

2002

August 31st saw the second festival kick off with more guests, more tents and some lovely weather. Line up included some open mike sessions with Mel, Lawrence, Giles and Peter between bands with Geraint Thomas singing and strumming some home brewed tunes. According to a T-shirt which must have shrunk somewhat in intervening years the main bands included; Punch Puppet, West Quartet, laid back in the sunshine jazz from Legabio in the early afternoon....nice! The sadly missed Rob Loneragan, Coldshot, festie stalwart Andy Comley, The Automatics, Strange Mutant Virus, Blazing Homesteads and headlined by the dynamite Skuba.

2008

Blissfields was to move to the Matterley Bowl near Winchester in 2008, resulting in an increase in the capacity of the festival to 4,000. On June 2 it was announced that the festival would be cancelled due to poor ticket sales. There were going to be four stages, with The Wonder Stuff, The Whip and Roni Size/Reprazent headlining the Punch Bowl, the open air main stage, between July 4 and 6.

2009

Headliners in 2009, the festival's most successful year were Super Furry Animals, Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons. Other acts included Cherbourg, Life in Film and The Ashbies. The hidden hedge a concealed dance and DJ area made its first appearance.Mumford & Sons enjoying themselves immensely and then backing Laura Marling, very entertaining. Subgiant preceding SFA playing a short but electric gig. Super Furry Animals played an intense set, wonderfully delivered with a restraint that threatened to blow both P.A and mind,....sublime, very enjoyable.

2010

The event celebrated its 10th birthday. Although the main headliner has yet to be confirmed, other headliners playing this year include Band of Skulls, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, and Dub Pistols. Festival goers can also expect to hear music from James Yuill, Kill It Kid and Ryan O'Reilly.

2011

The festival moved to a new site with a larger capacity at the Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott near Winchester. Main acts included Frank Turner, Tricky and Subgiant (band).

External links

• Blissfields Website
• BBC
• Blissfields at mintsouth