Live Review: Guilfest 2014.

by | Aug 10, 2014

Guilfest 2014 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Guilfest 2014 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

It was great to see Guilfest back in 2014, the crowd and performers seemed to be so ready for it, I had never attended but had heard how much fun the Festival was so I was looking forward to be there. As soon as I arrived I felt welcomed and everything was running smoothly and organised. I got my photo pass and knew it would be a special three days running around with my camera photographing great bands.

Guilfest 2014 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Guilfest 2014 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

The weather was like we were in Greece or Spain…blue skies and the sun kept shining for almost the whole weekend The people were so friendly and happy, everyone seemed to be having a fantastic time…I understand why, in the past, it has been voted the best small Family Festival, it certainly felt like a perfect community celebration with people of all ages and background gathering together to enjoy a variety of music and activities. The people of Surrey seem to like Guilfest with over 45,000 coming through the gates over the weekend.

Weekend festival happening in Guilford The Boomtown Rats with Bob Geldoff (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Weekend festival happening in Guildford.  The Boomtown Rats with Bob Geldoff (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

There were so many stages with a mix of rock, punk and main stream music for everyone around Stoke Park, not only music but a variety of acts, and a extensive choice of eating stalls and shopping for fun stuff as well. On Friday the main stage was set to keep the festival goers entertained bringing The Hoosiers, Doors Alive, Fun Lovin’ Criminals but undoubtedly headliner The Boom Town Rats made the biggest impression with so much energy and Sir Bob Geldorf was a true legend on stage. Finishing the night I went see Sham 69 and they really made it a special occasion in the hot sweaty tent , it felt like the place was on fire.

Weekend festival happening in Guilford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Sham 69 @ Guilfest 2014 a weekend festival happening in Guildford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Saturday was another hot day and it was by far the the busiest one, the field started packing up early with people dressed up, dancing around, drinking socializing, perfect to see the older generation and the kids having a good time. The main stage there was a fantastic line up, so varied and full of great performers starting with Loyd Grosman with his band The New Forbidden , what a surprise for me, all I knew was about his recipes and pasta jars, but he rocked hard with a guitar as well. The top act of the night Kool And The Gang didn’t disappoint and had enough hits to get people partying definitely a Celebration.

 

Weekend festival happening in Guilford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Kool & The Gang at a weekend festival happening in Guildford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

The second stage the great attraction was Jedward with a very enthusiastic crowd and how much fun the young men were. I never thought I’d ever see them live and it was quite special experiencing the moment with their fans. The headliner was a heavily pregnant Sam Bailey (X factor winner) , a very family friendly end of the night.

Guilfest 2014 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Jedward @ Guilfest 2014 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

The Big Cheese stage features newer bands with a hard rock feel and what a  grand line up as well. I didn’t manage to catch many bands but Black Futures were on my list and I would recommend you get over to see those guys, great show. On the Vive Le Rock stage my favourite act was The Buzzcocks, truly legends and fantastic to be there.

Weekend festival happening in Guilford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Buzzcocks @ Guilfest. Weekend festival happening in Guildford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Sunday started a bit on the cool side but not for long. Starting was Katrina (Ex and the Waves) , Shane Richie and his band The Prelude were such a revelation, for me anyway…he promised the crowd if they were good he would tell some Eastenders secrets. And the fun continued with Blobbie Williams, Kingsland Road, Norman Jay who got the festival goers on their feet with so many top tunes. The Sugar Hill Gang following on from where Candi Staton and Chic left off a few years ago getting the whole festival on their feet for feast of righteous rap.

The Human League headline Guilfest 2014 (Simon Jay Price)

The Human League headline Guilfest 2014 (Simon Jay Price)

Other great acts on that day were Ward Thomas, a British country music duo and The Enemy a feisty indie rock 3 piece from Coventry. The night ended with the Human League taking charge of the main stage playing so many great songs from the past…for me it was perfect. The smaller tents had so much to offer too, two of my favourite bands playing there, you can never fail to feel alive watching Feed The Rhino and Gallows.

Weekend festival happening in Guilford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Weekend festival happening in Guilford (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

In all it was a perfect weekend a truly special festival with so much to offer. Director of GuilFest, Tony Scott was delighted by this year’s event, saying “We’re so pleased that it happened, I have to say a huge thanks to all those who came, but also to all those who petitioned for us back in October to bring the festival back. There were lots of moments where we thought this wasn’t going to happen at all – so it really is truly amazing that it has turned out to be the best one we’ve ever put on! We really can’t wait for next year!!”

Solange Moreira-Yeoell was at Guilfest along with Simon Jay Price. A weekend festival in Guildford 16-19th July 2014.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000hAO84MANDMA” g_name=”Guilfest-2014″ f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”iptch” 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_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”640″ height=”480″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”FFFFFFF” btype=”new” bcolor=”#FFFFFF” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”sweep” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” bgtrans=”f” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” target=”_self” ]

Sombr (Press)

SOMBR To Make UK Arena Debut At The O2 As Part Of Venue’s 20th Birthday Celebrations

SOMBR will make his UK arena debut at London’s The O2 next summer, joining the venue’s growing 20th birthday celebrations with a headline show on Tuesday 22nd June 2027. The announcement adds one of music’s fastest-rising young stars to an increasingly diverse birthday line-up, which will see The O2 celebrate two decades of live entertainment throughout summer 2027.

Afterdrive (Press)

AFTERDRIVE Release New Single ‘Jewellery’ Ahead Of Debut EP And Headline UK Tour

Rising Suffolk alt-pop outfit AFTERDRIVE are stepping up the momentum with the release of their brand new single Jewellery, the latest track to emerge from their forthcoming debut EP, Dress To Drive.

Sophie Grey @ BST Hyde Park 2026 (Simon Reed)

SOPHIE GREY. Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Air’

Rising “Retro Electro” artist SOPHIE GREY. returns today with her latest single, Air, a vibrant electronic-pop track that arrives alongside a visually striking new music video and just in time for her performance at Manchester Pride Festival.

The Guest List (Vlad Woodham Smith)

The Guest List Arrive With Ambitious Debut Album ‘Something Real’

Manchester five-piece The Guest List have officially entered their next chapter with the release of their ambitious debut album, Something Real. Out now, the 11-track record captures a band rapidly expanding beyond their early indie beginnings, combining huge guitar-driven anthems with more intimate moments of vulnerability and reflection. Having spent much of 2026 building momentum on stages across the UK and overseas, the album arrives at a pivotal moment for a band increasingly establishing themselves as one of the country’s most exciting emerging guitar acts.

Greg Freeman (Gabe Long)

Greg Freeman Unleashes Ferocious New Single ‘Cahokia’ Ahead Of New Album ‘All Set The Bone’

Greg Freeman has shared Cahokia, the ferocious opening track from his forthcoming third album, All Set The Bone, due for release on 2nd October. Accompanied by a new video, Cahokia establishes the uneasy atmosphere that runs throughout the record, using the story of the ancient civilisation that once flourished around the Mississippi River as a lens through which Freeman examines the instability of contemporary life.

Gaz Coombes @ BST Hyde Park 2024 (Louise Phillips)

Supergrass Announce Nine-Date UK Headline Tour For Spring 2027

Supergrass are set to return to stages across the UK next spring, announcing a nine-date headline tour for April and May 2027. The Oxford-formed band will visit Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Bristol and Portsmouth, bringing their celebrated catalogue back to venues around the country following their hugely successful return to live performance in recent years.

Friendly Fires (Andrea Zvadova)

Friendly Fires Return With New Single ‘Lose All Your Friends’ And Embrace A New Beginning

Friendly Fires are back! The St Albans-formed indie-dance trio have returned with their first new music since 2019, sharing the exuberant new single Lose All Your Friends via LAB Records

Instigators @ 100 Club (Adrian Hextall)

Vive Le Rock Brings The Past, Present And Future Of Punk To London’s 100 Club

Vive Le Rock Magazine’s series of live shows brings some of the most exciting names from across the punk scene together to celebrate its past, present and future. At London’s legendary 100 Club, that meant a particularly potent triple bill, headlined by anarcho-punk veterans Instigators, who returned to the venue for the first time in 40 years, following opening sets from rising Bath four-piece Quick Romance and Brazilian-British hardcore punks Fantazmaz.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing