Solfest - Arenas

Venues

As well as our five music stages: Main Stage, Drystone Stage, Bar Stage, Dance Tent and Dogs in Space; plus our numerous chillout spaces - In 2011 we'll be introducing two new amazing venues!

L♥VE SHACK - Some say that according to recently unearthed and hastily rewritten Cumbrian legend, the L♡VE SHACK was danced into being by the Soul Fairies and Disco Pixies that dwelled in the Funk meadows beneath Borrowdale. More practically minded people are in no doubt that this is the place to be for the finest in eclectic tunes and entertainment. From the chancers who bring you The Snug at Beatherder, it's a little bit country, a bit rock n roll, with a whole lot of funk, disco and soul. For the insatiable cheeseheads there will be a large wedge of fresh and quirky house music from the best DJs no money could buy.

HOUSE OF JOY - our new home of ska, roots, reggae, rocksteady and dub! The place to have a feelgood skank to a rich mix of live bands and DJ's including DJ Jah-vis, Cojo & Mr P, Mr Scratch, DJ Glover, Mad Arawak, The Hostiles, Late Night Fiasco and not forgetting high energy bass from Matty B.

You can see our full live music line-up by clicking here.

Eating at Solfest

At Solfest 2011 we are delighted to welcome food traders both old and new bringing yummy comestibles from Cumbria, the UK and around the World!

Please Note: Food vendors don't begin trading until Friday morning, so if you're arriving on Thursday, remember to bring some dinner with you or stop off in Aspatria and pick some up from one of our fantastic local shops!

In the main trading village we have a taste of Mexico with Santa Fe - Henrys’ all night burrito and chilli stall. Rakesh from Nomad brings us sizzle and spice from the East and Dorian adds Italian Kitchen flair with his pasta and panini eatery and finally Steven and Eleanor from Scoop Choc Ice will cool us down as the weather will, of course, be fabulous!

Opposite the Family Area, Robin delights once more with his Risotto 4u, Alf and Barbara bring their yummy Wood fired pizzas too and, new to Solfest, we have Michelle with her Little Green Coffee Machine.

Alongside the Bar Area we have lovely Chanel from Chillikoko Cuisine tempting us with his delicious Creole creations plus new additions Stephen and Suzie bring tasty Cumberland and Westmorland sausages into the mix. Opposite them Sarah and Andy from Court Catering will be serving sustaining porridge and hot drinks, as well as a breakfast bar.

Wandering over to the Healing Area Sam from Naked Ape will be with us again with her fairtrade and organic drinks and cakes and newcomer Georgie will be offering a selection of curries and kebabs at The Green Cardamon

Weirdigans will be joining us once again all the way from Hebden Bridge. Em and her team will be working 24/7 throughout the festival to offer you soothing tea, cake and awesome music. What more could you possibly wish for?

In the Dance Area Red Radish Rachel will be with us again providing a tasty carvery and breakfast bar and alongside her, Svetlana joins us all the way from Malta with her delicious smoothies, toasties and wraps at Quenchers.

Solfest 2011 Chillout is seeing an enormous make over. Lazy Joe’s from Scotland will be joining us for the first time this year. Gayle and her team will be based in the new Reggae Area, serving yummy pies from dusk til dawn. Geoff from Mutleys is also a newcomer and he will be offering mouth-watering crepes with a variety of fillings. The Square Orange returns to Solfest but this year James has made it onto the main site. We are sure he will enjoy his new pitch and will welcome us all with his tasty food and chill area. Mark, another Solfest Newbie, runs Gandhis’ flip flop and will be offering scrummy curries and drinks.

Down at the Drystone Area we welcome back Paula and Bob of Mashed Tea Tent who will be looking after us with their refreshing teas, coffees and cakes. They also have free hot water for baby feeds. Sweet! Rachel from I’s Pies has moved down to this area for 2011 and will be selling yummy homemade pies and mash.

Finally, we have two new traders in the Vlllage Green Area (on the left just before the Arena Entrance). Lisa form Bean on the Scene will be serving fairtrade coffee and Hornets’ Cornets Laura will tempt us with ices, drinks and sweets.

Shopping at Solfest

Now then! Solfest 2011 will have numerous stalls to tempt you in parting with your hard earned dosh. Let's start with the Main Traders' Village. The prime spot that many traders lust after looks out over the main arena. Here you will find Dave from Priya Trading selling all manner of fairly traded comfy fleeces, funky hats, bags and accessories AND you can get cashback too!

Gwyn, a Solfest regular, is also here again with her awesome Big Blue Daisy stall, where she will be selling her unique handmade jewellery. Charley from Cascada returns and will be selling his popular hammocks, ponchos and childrens' clothing. Rebecca from Bliss sells clothes, wall hangings, bags and scarves from around the world. Ann from Executive Lizards returns and delights with her funky animal puppets and soft toys.

Anthony from Tonys' Emporium is back once again selling clocks, watches, bags and clothing and is next to Ian Pigg from IS (formerly known as Hempcat) who sells 100% hemp clothing, textiles and accessories from Yunnan in southwest China and baskets and musical instruments from Africa. Helen from Glowing Crazy has moved to the corner facing out with her collection of shiny and sparkly goodies. Round the corner from Helen are Lisa and Neil from Shiva Eye with their unique range of suede and leather ware, blankets and jewellery, and up from them is Solfest newcomer Toto, run by Julia who will selling trinkets for our younger festival goers, as well as a gorgeous range of scarves.

Opposite the Healing and Workshop Area, Louise from Shahlou is back for more, bringing along her rugs, hangings, cushions - next to her is Alex from Shrine with their jewellery and accessories from India, Nepal and Thailand. Kate and Si from Alchemy Incense will not only be selling their wares but they will also be demonstrating Incense making and making a special Solfest blend. We welcome them along with Jean from Tinker Tailors with her beautiful handmade woollen and wooden items that incorporate recycled fabrics and found objects. Sara returns with her Big Fab Clothes Stall, as does festival stalwart Bill and his extensive range of X – Army wear. Finally on that side are Sedbergh Folkfest favourites, Tracy and Tony trading ethically sourced crystals, jewellery and pretty household goods.

Let's nip around the corner – facing the Bar Tent. Along here all our traders have been to Solfest before, so a big, warm welcome goes out to the following! Solfest regular Mimi from Nonsense brings her unique clothing, jewellery and accessories into the mix while Blob and Sharon from Jupiter and Suns are offering their belly dancing accessories, lashes and all manner of shiny things to make you stand out from the crowd! Clare at Moonland returns with her original handmade leather bags, belts, money belts, cuffs and jewellery, and last but not least Kevin and Janet from Gourangaoo are back once more with their handcrafted gifts and clothing from Nepal!

Opposite all of these lovely traders is another new face to Solfest - Terri from Rastafairies is joining us for the first time this year bringing peace, love and African and Jamaican jewellery and clothing.

Down by the Drystone Stage we are seeing some changes for 2011. New to Solfest we have Eileen from Tara and The Silver Tree selling jewellery and clothing, Gary from Karma with lots of fabulous hatwear to complement your fancy dress outfits, and Steven and Lynn from Airy Fairy a quirky range range of goods from handmade paper books and cards to painted glass items.

Returning to Solfest we have Stuart of Not a Full Shilling showing off his outstanding skills in making jewellery from coins and Phil with his awesome handcrafted wooden objets d'art at Wartsnall. Happily, Paul from No time also makes a welcome return to Solfest bringing along his furniture, carvings and articacts from Indonesia, Thailand, Africa and India.

In the Dance Tent Arena we have Ed from P3 Designs selling clothing and novelty festival ware: wigs, masks and horned helmets. Tribal Planet are trading in the Chillout Arena and bring along funky sunglasses, wigs, masks, body jewellery and hats.

Finally, there is a new area this year. Just by the Family Area Gate Sue from Dyed in the Wool joins us for the first time with and Rachel of Friends of the Earth is here with heaps of advice of keeping our glorious planet just that way!

Indoor Market

More information coming soon!

Walkabout Artists

Pandemonium
After getting lost in a hash cloud at Little Flippit Air Show, the Red Arrows have been grounded, and so Pandemonium return to Solfest this year with a brand new line-up! Look out for gangster rodents, a family of beach bums, and a festy bus that will really move you! This is Pandemonium’s third outing at Solfest and looks like their gearing up to offer their best yet!!!!

www.pandemoniumtheatre.org.uk

Taffy Thomas - Storyteller
Touring around the festival this year, will be the infamous Taffy Thomas on his story trike. Taffy is currently artistic director of Tales in Trust, the Northern Centre for Storytelling, in Grasmere and in October 2009 Taffy accepted the honorary position of first Laureate for Storytelling which will run for two years so make sure you stop him for a tale or two…

www.taffythomas.co.uk

Storytree
In a mystical place full of music and magic stands storyTree with its boughs full of stories ripe for the picking, back for their 7th year, why not join them through the day for storymaking, see them round the site telling stories in the guise of Patrick and Bridget and 2, 10 foot Christmas trees and in the evening join them under the storyTree for Bedtime stories before you wander off back to your tent for some well earned rest.

www.storytree.org.uk

Captain Gacko
What’s in the box? Many things! Captain Gacko Troubadour of Piel Island is once again proudly promenading, around the solfest site, with Dolly his peripatetic perambulator of performance. Keen as ever to unload his curious cargo of songs, stories and routines for the young or young at heart.
Along the way this wandering vagabond showman explores the nooks and crannies of our festival, finding an audience anywhere and everywhere. Classic stories rounded up, recycled and recounted for your viewing pleasure. Stop him and he’ll do ya one!

Professor Pumpernickel
Who is zis guy? Yes, zis is ze question most people ask venever I am conducting one of my Superdooper Science Shows. To answer zis question, please read on. Hokey dokey and hello. I am a scientist who loves to teach people about ze magical vorld of science and chemistry. Now and then I may act a little insane, but please not to worry. Zis is only a slight symptom of exposing myself to highly radioactive material during a top-secret experiment some years ago, in ze Pumpernickel Laboratory. I'm ok really! What?... who said dat? I Professor Pumpernickel vill show you dat science is magic, and magic, is science. Danke schön! Catch the professors science lessons at various locations around the festival.

www.Professorpumpernickel.moonfruit.com

The Rambling Shadow
When the sky goes dark, look out for the light of The Rambling Shadow at Solfest this year - a one woman shadow contraption full of stories. She will be everywhere, anywhere and nowhere across the festival nights. If you do find her, make sure you stop and listen to her ramblings because there might just be a story hiding amongst the shadows…

Precious Cargo
When you go down to Solfest this year, you’re sure of a big surprise… Daddy, Mummy and Baby Bear will be there too. But beware, it’s not all honey pots and picnic blankets. They’re also on the hunt for Goldilocks!!! So look out for them, but remember… DO NOT FEED THE BEARS! This is Precious Cargo’s first outing at Solfest and we are sure it will prove to be an exciting and hair raising experience.

The fearless Brothers
Cecil and Philbert Fearless are the most spiffingly adventurous adventurers the world has ever seen. The brothers are always on the look-out for something to hunt, climb, traverse or navigate. They will regale the crowds at Solfest with tales of preposterous escapades and even try and round up a new troop of hearty souls to take on the next intrepid challenge. Fun, laughter and interactive antics are guaranteed with this perilous pair.

Boom Dang
"Boom Dang / Ting Tang is an internationally acclaimed side-ways drumming band. Performing with choreography, BIG drums, tuned percussion, they play in their own special way, an original mix of Drum & Bass, Bhangra, Drumline, Latin, Afro-Beat, Merengue and Moroccan Trance. They wow audiences where-ever they go with their heady mix of live beats, towering drums and giant drum-kits. Seeing is believing! This is different! "

www.boomdang.co.uk

Chris Rigby
Chris Rigby is primarily a landscape painter based in North Yorkshire but working and exhibiting throughout the British Isles. Although Chris often paints in wild, exposed and remote locations from the Shetland Islands to the Scillies, he will spend this Solfest exploring the festival site and painting as and when he feels inspired. Last year was his first experience of the festival where he produced a small collection of works, this year he hopes to continue the theme.

www.chris-rigby.co.uk

Badge Pirates
Be on the lookout for the badge pirates this year a gruesome pair who will be wandering around Solfest, amusing and entertaining us all, including the children of course. The Badge Pirates will also be running Badge making workshops, for children of all ages, and they sell 'em too; badges that is, not children. Although unattended children may be later sold as slaves!

www.thebadgepirate.co.uk

Blue Jam
B Jamba is BlueJam's samba band, made up of a real mix of people, with our own homegrown beats - all with one thing in common...we just love to drop a beat that makes you move your feet. BlueJam is a community music and arts company from Penrith. We have played at Solfest every year with our Festival Band and we love it! Viva Solfest!

Workshops for Adults

It's really difficult to split our workshops into 'Kids' and 'Adults' as most of the activities that we offer are suitable for everyone to enjoy together

We have a number of popular activities that come to us every year but also a whole host of new workshops every year that are designed to excite, teach new skills and provoke thought (as well as just a really good way to spend an hour or so!)

Below are some of the workshops that we have had in the past that have been most suited to older kids and adults; but please take a look at the Kids Activities page too to find out what we have to offer for all ages....

Inta Africa came to us in 2010 with their fabulous African drumming workshops. They worked with a whole range and age of people some who'd never tried any drumming before and some who struggled to count to three but all of whom worked with Mark and his crew will began with some simple rhythms before working up to a full-on session!

Continuing the African theme, Zoe Sawane joined us again to lead her ever popular African Dance sessions in the Workshop tent where enthusiasm was far more important than ability!

The international feel continued with the return of Justin and Nici's Merengue Workshops. A fantastic opportunity for even complete beginners to try their feet at this simple yet infectious Dominican dance. Some came with a dance partner others found one whilst they were there, everyone had great fun!

We were absolutely thrilled (and really quite excited) to be welcome Baka Beyond's very own Su Hart to lead workshops in the Singing Techniques of the Baka Women. Participants learnt more about 'Yelli' singing, vocal and hand clapped rhythm work and the patterns of Baka melodies and calls.

Kerry Wright, led her morning 'Come Tai Chi With Me' sessions where festival goers up early on on their way to their beds were gven the opportunity to try Tai Chi for the first time or stand on one leg with the other Tai Chi converts in a supportive atmosphere!

Maureen Morano had a selection of her beautiful rag rugs on display and led drop-in workshops on the art of rag-rug making.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music and dance. We had a variety of Capoeria activities where you were able to try it for yourself or just enjoy the spectacle as Greg and his team performed around the site.

For the first time at 2010's festival the craze of Zumba turned up the heat by combining sexy latin dance styles such as Cumbia, Salsa, Reggaeton, and Samba with fun and easy to follow exercise movements with Zumba Cumbria!

So whether you want to re-energise, learn a new skill or chill out for a while there should be sometihng for you at Solfest 2011.