Live: LeeFest Presents: The Neverland @ John Darlings Farm.

by | Aug 4, 2016

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland, is a new and exciting venture for Lee Denny and his pals. Believe it or not this is the Tenth Anniversary of LeeFest, and let me tell you there have been some changes and all of them good.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm. (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm. (Simon Jay Price)

Gone is the total DIY ethos of previous festivals replaced by well thought out and inventively designed play areas for all ages. Take your choice from Mermaids Lagoon with its DJ booths, Rainbow Lounge and hot tubs, Skull Ridge with the small indie stage, pirates, outdoor dance area, comedy tents and 8-bit games rooms or into the Neverwoods for the spacious arena and the main Bangarang stage.

Circa Waves Headline Friday Night at LeeFest. (Simon Jay Price)

Circa Waves Headline Friday Night at LeeFest. (Simon Jay Price)

The spirit of LeeFest of old lives on in Hooks Rock, where new up and coming bands play and in the forest, a short walk to discover The Wendy House, where a seemingly never-ending supply of  folk and comedy acts set up and play throughout the day. Where else would you meet and hang out with Gay Bum? And yes, that was the first name that came into their heads!

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm. (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm. (Simon Jay Price)

Following a brilliant launch on Thursday night with headliners Everything Everything and Ghost Poet and the the whole festival enticed into a very packed out Tootles Circus tent, the rest of the weekend looked to be bound for success.

The Neverwoods welcomed us on Friday to an arena with fun activities including Freestyle Frisbee (I caught a stray one whilst walking along with my camera to the applause of..a few) and Bumper Ball and Food Fights. This area also hosting many stalls, pop-up restaurants and stands from Greenpeace alongside free food from the newly rebranded Co-Op.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Clean Cut Kid (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Clean Cut Kid (Simon Jay Price)

Friday’s musical highlights for us were from some of the lesser known bands including Clean Cut Kid with their brilliant “instant classic” rock riffs and harmonies. A group that in the past might have been ignored for the way they look rather than the way they sound, but what a live act they are!

New discoveries that really got hold of our ears and hearts were Get Inuit and Otherkin. Get Inuit, a local Kent-based band, were something of a complete revelation. Live they are bright, buoyant, mobile and great songsmiths, probably the band of the weekend. Their name chosen at random and then by seeing what works best in an internet search. Good tactics lads!

Get Inuit Portraits (Simon Jay Price)

Get Inuit (Simon Jay Price)

Otherkin from Dublin are another band with great ideas but in a slightly different way, if you were walking past their gig at Hooks Rock you got press ganged into attending because the singer or guitarist, on the end of an extremely long cable for microphone or jack, would be waiting outside for you. Once inside though their performance and stage presence was blistering and fun.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Otherkin at Hooks Rock (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Otherkin at Hooks Rock (Simon Jay Price)

Saturday was a slightly cooler affair than the day before but the weather continued to bless us all with no rain. I am not sure what would have happened if it had rained as most of the tented areas seemed incredibly small to house the four thousand or so that attended.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm. (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm. (Simon Jay Price)

It was marvellous to see that LeeFest had hung together so well, that all the bits were still working and no tired looking stages, themed sets or stalls going into the final day. The only concern… perhaps a bit too much litter and a bit more effort in the recycling department might be a consideration for next year.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Shura. (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Shura. (Connie Jean)

The final day included American indie rockers We Are Scientists, jazz-inspired Submotion Orchestra, British newcomer and sure-fire hit maker Shura and a enigmatic and cheery headline set from Lianne La Havas.

Shura really engages with the crowd and is so down to earth it is a bit like having your best pal on stage. She bought a fantastic sound to the arena backed by her often thought “illusive” band named Chicken Lizard And The Antlered People. 

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with We Are Scientists (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with We Are Scientists (Connie Jean)

It was We Are Scientists who stole the show on the last day, playing songs from their well known first album With Love & Squalor and mixed them with cuts from the newer, hard but poppy, fifth studio album Helter Seltzer. Their non stop power-pop held LeeFest captive for 35 minutes (shorts sets are always the thing at LeeFest) as they moved, kicked and played their way through their slot.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Lianne La Havas (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Lianne La Havas (Connie Jean)

However, Lianne La Havas has to have the last word, not only for her songs and musicianship but for her shoes and guitars. She has two (a Trini Lopez Memphis Gibson and a James Trussart Steel Body) of the coolest guitars around in her collection. She is also, probably, the biggest headline act that LeeFest has ever had and as the night drew in, close and cold, her voice and guitar playing simply soared.

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Lianne La Havas (Simon Jay Price)

LeeFest Presents: The Neverland at John Darlings Farm with Lianne La Havas (Connie Jean)

A wonderful LeeFest is not quite bought to a close because the bars and comedy clubs are turned into night clubs and across The Neverland, lost boys and girls come out to play, at least until morning. LeeFest will be back next year!

Live Review by Simon Jay Price & Photography by Simon Jay Price & Connie Jean

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00004JH2UJ8zcHs” g_name=”LeeFest-Presents-The-Neverland” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_smooth=”t” f_up=”t” f_topbar=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”740″ height=”555″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” target=”_self” ]

 

Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam @ BST Hyde Park 2022 (Simon Reed)

Matt Cameron Departs Pearl Jam After 27 Years Amidst Wave Of Drummer Changes In Rock

After nearly three decades behind the kit, Matt Cameron has announced his departure from Pearl Jam. The legendary drummer, 62, shared the news via social media on 7th July, marking the end of a 27‑year tenure that began in 1998. His departure comes in the wake of the band’s Dark Matter World Tour, which concluded earlier this year.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Shines In Mid-Afternoon Magic On The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

While headliner Noah Kahan was preparing to command the Great Oak Stage later in the evening, over on the Rainbow Stage a quieter but equally stirring performance was unfolding under the soft mid-afternoon sun. Georgia-born singer-songwriter Sydney Rose brought her headline tour to a moving finale, wrapping her journey in heartfelt lyrics and gently fierce vocals that captivated a festival crowd seeking intimacy amid the day’s growing energy.

Gigi Perez @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Gigi Perez Captivates London With Raw Emotion And Rising-Star Power At BST Hyde Park 2025

At just 25 years old, Gigi Perez has already carved out a reputation as one of indie-pop’s most compelling new voices — and her late afternoon set on the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park proved exactly why. Supporting headliner Noah Kahan and following a string of breakout moments this year, the Hackensack, New Jersey native delivered a deeply affecting performance filled with vulnerability, power, and soaring vocals

Paris Paloma @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Paris Paloma Brings Barefoot Magic To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In a festival rich with soaring choruses and star power, it was Paris Paloma’s barefoot grace and gothic romanticism that carved out one of the day’s most mesmerising sets. Taking to The Rainbow Stage on a golden midsummer afternoon, the Derbyshire singer-songwriter captivated her growing legion of fans with an intimate, emotionally charged performance that felt part séance, part storybook.

FINNEAS @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

FINNEAS Warms Up London With Heart And Humour Before Noah Kahan’s Headline Set At BST Hyde Park 2025

It’s not every day that a support slot feels like a moment of main event magic, but FINNEAS — the GRAMMY®-winning songwriter, producer, and solo artist — brought just that to the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park on Friday. Performing ahead of headliner Noah Kahan and main support Gracie Abrams, the 27-year-old delivered a slick, emotionally charged set that balanced heartfelt sincerity with tongue-in-cheek charm.

Noah Kahan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Northern Attitude In London: Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams & Friends Light Up BST Hyde Park 2025

It was, as the name requires, the perfect summer's day for British Summer Time Hyde Park on Friday. The sun was...
The Raven Age @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Heirs To The Throne? The Raven Age Blaze Their Own Trail Supporting Iron Maiden At The London Stadium

On a scorching June evening that would culminate with the almighty Iron Maiden setting London Stadium ablaze, the...
Olivia Rodrigo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Sophia Carey)

Olivia Rodrigo Proves That London Is Her Favourite City At BST Hyde Park 2025

British Summer Time is officially underway in Hyde Park, and the unbearable heatwave will continue to remind us all of...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing