The Big Chill (music festival)
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| Location(s) | Ledbury, Herefordshire, England |
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| Years active | 1994 – present |
| Founded by | Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin |
| Date(s) | Early August |
| Genre | Indie, Dance music, World music, Jazz, Reggae, Folk music, Dub music, Ambient, Chillout |
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August. The 2011 line up included The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Jessie J, Robert Plant, Calvin Harris, Aloe Blacc, Chipmunk, Katy B & Example.
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[edit] History
Founded in 1994 by Pete Lawrence Artistic Director and Katrina Larkin Financial Director,[1] The Big Chill began as a series of ambient parties at the Union Chapel in Islington, but developed into an outdoor festival in 1995, with an unlicenced event in the Black Mountains of Wales.[2] In the early days the most prominent DJ's were Matt Black of Coldcut, Tom Middleton of Global Communication and Mixmaster Morris, also known as the Irresistible Force.
In 1996 the first licenced event took place in Norfolk which proved unsuccessful and resulted in bankruptcy and the liquidation of the then management company. A new company was formed by Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin called PK Events Limited and in 1998 a new home for the event (now known as "The Enchanted Garden") was found at Larmer Tree Gardens in England where it was held for 5 years. During this time the festival slowly developed its hallmarks, such as high quality visuals, an excellent range of food stalls, highly unusual line-ups and a Body & Soul field with many healers, masseurs and alternative therapists. In 2001 a second summer festival was also held at Lulworth Castle in Dorset. In 2002 the festival moved to Eastnor Castle where it still remains. 2002 was also the year the festival went under for the second time with the management company PK Events Limited going into liquidation with debts of over 350 thousand pounds. The festival brand was retained and 50% of it was sold to the Cantaloupe Group a company which managed a bar chain. A new company Chillfest Limited was created with Katrina Larkin as Financial and Sponsorship Director and Pete Lawrence as Artistic Director owning 25% each and retaining their controlling management roles in the company. Following a financially unsuccessful festival In 2007 the Cantaloupe Group bought out Pete Lawrence who left the company and some of Katrina Larkin's shares and became the majority shareholders. Katrina Larkin remained as the Financial and Sponsorship Director. In 2009 the festival again went into liquidation with debts amounting to 1.2 million pounds and the brand was bought by Festival Republic. Katrina Larkin moved on to work with Festival Republic in a new role as Creative Director but left after the first year selling her remaining shares in the festival. Festival Republic now own the Big Chill Festival.
Throughout its history, The Big Chill has showcased a variety of different music, uptempo as well as ambient. Nowadays, live acts and DJs like Norman Jay, Mr Scruff, Hexstatic, Mixmaster Morris, alucidnation, DJ Derek, Leggo Beast and Gilles Peterson are regular performers, and more dance music is heard, but the festival also provides a diverse range of music from folk and jazz to African and dub.
In addition to a widely varied musical line-up, a focus upon art, films, poetry, circus, cabaret, comedy and gourmet food all play a key part in setting The Big Chill apart from the competition. The Big Chill has, over the years, seen contributions from and collaborations with Spencer Tunick, Pete Fowler, Gavin Turk, Cedric Christie, Peter Blake, Rankin, Bob & Roberta Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Tate Britain, the British Film Institute, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Bompas & Parr, the Roundhouse, Apples & Snakes, Penguin Books, The World Famous, Film4, and the Art Car Boot Fair, to name but a few.
[edit] Past line-ups
Over the years, The Big Chill's line-up has included the following performers and DJ's:
1995 Big Chill Gala, Llanthony, Black Mountains, Wales: Nightmares On Wax (DJ set), Global Communication, The Gentle Experience (Gentle People vs Karminsky Experience), Springheel Jack, Mixmaster Morris, Matt Black, Another Fine Day.
1996 Big Chill Gala - Hingham, Norfolk: LTJ Bukem, Squarepusher, Mr Scruff, Talvin Singh, Pork Recordings, Zion Train, Autechre, Andrea Parker, Bedouin Ascent, Wishmountain, Earthtribe, Muslimgauze, Sounds From The Ground.
1998 Enchanted Garden, Larmer Tree, Wilts: Instrumental v Mao, Jimpster, Bedouin Ascent, Ian O'Brien, Dego (4 Hero), Rainer Trüby, Michael Reinboth, Robert Miles, London Elektricity, Joi.
1999 Enchanted Garden, Larmer Tree, Wilts: Fila Brazillia, Fridge, BJ Cole and Luke Vibert, Hexstatic, Hefner, Gilles Peterson, Plaid, A Man Called Adam, Roots Manuva, Jazzanova, Paino Circus, Harold Budd, Bollywood Brass Band.
2000 Enchanted Garden, Larmer Tree, Wilts: Amon Tobin, State Of Bengal, Blue States, DJ Food, Norman Jay, The Bays, Amba, Bent, Paper Recordings, Shur-i-Ken, Pork Recordings, Chris Coco
2001 Enchanted Garden, Larmer Tree, Wilts: Zero 7, The Cinematic Orchestra, Kinobe, Goldfrapp, Terry Callier, Blu Mar Ten, Spacek, LTJ Bukem, DJ Derek, Richard Norris, Neotropic, Alucidnation, Sidestepper.
2001 Lulworth Castle, Dorset: Kruder & Dorfmeister, Future Sound of London, Phil Asher and Nathan Haines, Mixmaster Morris, Landslide, Modaji, Howie B, Herbert, Crazy Penis, Pitch Black, Funky Lowlives.
2002 Enchanted Garden, Larmer Tree, Wilts: Lamb, Badmarsh and Shri, Peshay, Lambchop, Quantic, Lemon Jelly, To Rococo Rot, Pole, DJ Krush, Boomclick, Osymyso.
2002 Eastnor Castle: Gotan Project, Röyksopp, Plaid, Fila Brazillia, Koop, Maurice Fulton, Gilles Peterson, Hint, Isan, Ulrich Schnauss, Andreas Vollenweider, Bola, The Bees, Charles Webster, Jerry Dammers, Jedi Knights.
2003 Eastnor Castle: Nitin Sawhney, John Peel, Trüby Trio, Jaga Jazzist, Boozoo Bajou, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band, Bussetti, François K, Jimi Tenor, Nightmares On Wax, A Guy Called Gerald, Murcof, Amy Winehouse, Dubtribe Sound System, The Wurzels.
2004 Eastnor Castle: Coldcut, Lemon Jelly, Fragile State, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Mylo, Hot Chip, Phil Hartnoll, The Egg, Bonobo, Xpress 2, Adam Freeland, Memory Band, Oi Va Voi, Flipsyde, New Sector Movement, Biosphere, Four Tet, Bugz In The Attic, Bent, Sparky.
2005 Eastnor Castle: The Bays, Mad Professor, Fat Freddy's Drop, The Earlies, Tinariwen, The Necks, Lunz, Robert Fripp, St. Etienne, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, The Rebirth, Youngblood Brass Band, Emiliana Torrini, The Beat, Roisin Murphy, The Swingle Singers, Alice Russell, Kate Rusby, Tunng, Roisin Murphy, London Elektricity, Patife and Dynamite MC.
2006 Eastnor Castle: José González, Aim, The Heritage Orchestra with Deodato, Amadou and Mariam, Arrested Development, The Proclaimers, Sebastian Tellier, Brian Eno, Lily Allen, Coldcut, Robert Owens, Biggabush, Nathan Fake, Jon Hopkins, Lambchop, Beauty Room, Bellowhead, Jamie Lidell, Vashti Bunyan, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Lou Rhodes, Neil Cowley Trio, Shri, Bugz In The Attic, Sparks, E.S.T, Digitonal, The Egg, Scritti Politti.
2007 Eastnor Castle: Kruder & Dorfmeister, The Cinematic Orchestra, Seasick Steve, The Bad Plus, Richie Havens, The Blockheads, Mr Hudson and The Library, Mixmaster Morris, Faze Action, Morgan Geist, Max Hattler, Isaac Hayes, Ojos De Brujo, Skatalites, Paul Hartnoll, Kevin Rowland, John Metcalfe, The Spatial AKA Orchestra, Roedelius, Shlomo, Crazy P, The Go! Team, Hexstatic, Tom Middleton.
2008 Eastnor Castle: Thievery Corporation, Trentmoller, Leonard Cohen, The Mighty Boosh, Bill Bailey, Irresistible Force, The Buzzcocks, Beth Orton, Roots Manuva, Ty, David Holmes, The Orb, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Russell Howard, Flying Lotus, Benga, Derrick Carter, Matthew Herbert Big Band, DJ Krush, Hot 8 Brass Band, Fink, Camille.
2009 Eastnor Castle: Basement Jaxx, Orbital, David Byrne, Lamb, Spiritualized, Pharoah Sanders, Amadou & Mariam, Max Romeo, Mulatu Astatke, Chris Cunningham, Josie Long, Tim Minchin, Dylan Moran, Noel Fielding, Russell Howard, Metro Area, Michael Lang, Friendly Fires, Mr Hudson, Chrome Hoof, Calexico, Ashley Beedle, The Field, James Yuill, Todd Terje, Bass Clef, Tomb Crew, Don Letts, Bonobo, Justin Robertson, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, To Rococo Rot, David Shrigley, Norman Jay, Gong, John Cooper Clarke, Mixmaster Morris, Congo Natty, Jazzie B, Keb Darge, Adrian Sherwood, Greg Wilson, DJ Derek, Sparky, Suns of Arqa.
2010 Eastnor Castle: Massive Attack, M.I.A., Lily Allen, Thom Yorke, Roots Manuva, Gregory Isaacs, Explosions In The Sky, Plan B, Tinie Tempah, Bebel Gilberto, Kelis, Roy Ayers, Mike Patton's Mondo Cane, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Layo & Bushwacka!, Magnetic Man, Mr. Scruff, Craig Charles, Mystery Jets, Steve Mason, Chris Coco, Benji B, Liars, Caribou, Mount Kimbie, The Leisure Society, Rye Rye, Riva Starr, Bonobo, Villagers, Henrik Schwarz, Andy Weatherall, Hospital Records, Little Dragon, The Bug, Mad Professor, Joker, Appleblim, Theo Parrish, Greg Wilson, DJ Derek, Tom Middleton, Futureboogie, Alice Russell, The Heavy, Andreya Triana, Funki Porcini, Lol Hammond, Willkommen Collective, Dry The River, Beth Jeans Houghton, Sparky, Alejandro Toledo and the Magic Tombolinos.
[edit] Festival Site
The festival is situated in the grounds of Eastnor Castle near Ledbury in Herefordshire. The grounds are normally used as a reserve for deer. The organisers encourage a "leave no trace" policy to dissuade people from littering the site. Camping is divided into Red, Blue, Green and Purple areas, as well as Family Camping, Quiet Camping and Accessible Camping.
[edit] Sale to Festival Republic
In September 2009, Chillfest Limited - the company responsible for running the festival since 2003 - was placed into voluntary liquidation by its owners. The rights to the festival brand were purchased by Festival Republic.[3] Vantis Plc - the company appointed as liquidators - released a statement blaming poor ticket sales for the 2009 festival as the reason for liquidation.[4]
[edit] Other sites
The Big Chill also operates a handful of extras:
- Big Chill House - pub/club/restaurant on Pentonville Road, London
- Big Chill Bar - a bar off Brick Lane, London
- Big Chill Bar (Bristol) - bar on Small Street
- Big Chill record label
