End Of The Road Festival

Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset

Now in its second year, End Of The Road is a festival for the discerning music fan. Less riotous than most with no real obvious big-draw headliner, but organisers Simon Taffe and Sofia Hagberg understand precisely what a music festival should be. Small, intimate, magical surroundings made it just the right atmosphere to discover new, and old, music just when you least expect it.
With cloudless skies for much of the weekend it was a slice of musical heaven. Four stages: an outdoor stage, a big top, and two small tents exhibited the finest mainly lo-fi talent from around the world. There was also comedy, cinema, a healing field and several art installations half hidden throughout the gardens waiting to be discovered. Wild peacocks and parrots nobly wondered amongst it all taking no notice of the 5000 punters.
With so many indie legends and hotly tipped young bands, it was hard to know where to start. Yo Lo Tengo’s set Friday night on the Garden Stage was self indulgent for band and crowd a like. Simply awe inspiring.


Saturday afternoon on the Garden stage featured Scandinavian artists Loney, Dear, The Concretes and surprise hit of the festival, indie pop sensations, I’m From Barcelona. Their set saw full audience participation with balloons, confetti and lead singer Emanuel Lundgren crowd surf atop a pink li-lo.

Saturday evening saw every member of the crowd dancing to The Bees then Super Furry Animals who are always superb on a festival stage. Sadly, they were on at the same time as Architecture In Helsinki and British Sea Power on the Big Top Stage. Reports from there say it was an amazing night in the Big Top. While over at the Bimble Inn Stage in a small tent, Californian’s, Port O’Brien displayed their unique blend of mad, eccentric tunes to ensure that after a priceless day, this party would carry long into the night.

Sunday’s highlights included Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci frontman, Euros Childs, play his brilliant solo material. A massive crowd pleaser. Swedish trio Herman Düne followed, drawing a large crowd with their quirky songs sounding somewhere between Neil Young and Daniel Johnson.

US legends Lamchop closed the Garden Stage with their unclassifiable brand of incredible music, which seemed fitting to this nearly unclassifiable festival. There was just enough time to move over to the Big Top stage to watch Swedish indie pop genius, Jens Lekman on his later than scheduled slot.

End Of The Road seems devoid of pretentious behaviour from bands and punters alike. Bands were seen coming out into the crowd immediately after their set to sell CDs, sign autographs and just mingle. Every stage you happen to wander past seemed to be play something amazing. The spirit of days gone by reigns supreme here with not one single corporate advertising board in sight. The only downside is not being able to see every act over the weekend.

Its no wonder the inaugural festival won an award for 'Best New Festival’ last year. Hopefully this festival will be around for many years to come.