Sunflowerfest 2015
Hillsborough – 31st July – 2nd August 2015
Over the past couple of years Sunflowerfest has definitely cemented its place as one of the biggest and best local festivals in Northern Ireland. Over 3 days in the middle of summer, the Hillsborough based festival aims to nurture mind, body and soul. What that means is that as well as the music, festival goers are treated to an array of activities. Sunflowerfest hosts an arts and crafts village, a kids zone and a programme of family theatre in the site’s Enchanted Glade. The mind, body and soul is fully catered for with Sunflowerfest’s Bliss Body and Soul eco village with workshops for yoga, blacksmithing and weaving amongst others.
In terms of music various international acts have played the festival over the years, including The Orb and The Answer who took to the stage as headliners last year. What surely catches the eye on this year’s line-up however is the plethora of great local acts. Anyone who’s followed the Northern Irish scene for the past year will recognise plenty of the names.
► Top picks
The biggest hitters on Saturday may just be Screaming Eagles. The hard rock quartet have just released their second album ‘Stand Up and Be Counted’. Their set at Sunflowerfest will be the band’s first since the album’s release so they are sure to be in enthusiastic form. For the hard rock fans at the festival, Mstrong>Maverick will also be on the stage on Saturday and would another to check out.
We may be showing a bit of bias considering we recently hosted their single launch but you would be missing out if you didn’t take in His New Atlas on Friday. The ethereal and emotional music the three-piece fronted by Armagh’s Eoghan O’Hagan certainly creates an atmosphere. It will be interesting to see how this translates to a busier festival but they will certainly be a band to check out over the weekend.
The inventive Robocobra Quartet will be back to Sunflowerfest again this year and are another to check out. Another band making their return are Loris. With a new member in Mojo Fury‘s Michael Mormecha, they will definitely earn a few new fans. Finally, having witnessed The Wood Burning Savages tear up their recent single launch you would be mad to miss their Sunday slot.
► Details
Full weekend camping tickets are available at £69.95. Single day tickets range from £20-25. Adult tickets also admit two children under 15 years old for free.
Sunflowerfest runs from Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August.
More details available on the website.
http://www.sunflowerfest.co.uk/
