Twinwood Music Festival

[Bovisand]

We are going to the Twinwood Music festival for the first time this year, and then onto France afterwards.
Just wondered if anyone who has been before has any advice or tips. We are there for the full weekend arriving on Thursday and pitching up in field B North. Been highly recommended (though not cheap) so looking forward to giving it a go.

 

[Lenny HB]

Did it 6 years on the trot, lost it's way a bit but apparently starting to go back to its roots now. Got a bit fed up with it peeing down every year.

I hope they have improved the dance floors as they were getting a bit rough the last time we went, the last thing you need at a dance festival, I assume you dance as that is what Twinwood is all about.
Although they say about 25% of visitors dress up, in reality, it's 95% or more and if you are not dressed up you will feel out of place.

Get there early at least a couple of hours before they open at midday as if you end up at the bottom end of the field it's a long walk.
Another reason we stopped going as getting on the A field is difficult as it gets sold out during the festival.

Slightly different but in similar vane is the Retro Festival we will be at the Newbury one in August, will be our 7th or 8th year. Also it's half the price of Twinwood and has a big Funster meet in a prime area right next to the entertainment areas, so you only have to walk a few yards to the Rock 'n Roll Marquee. They have promised to improve the dance floors this year after all the complaints last year.

Thread on the Retro Fun Rally.
Retro Festival website.

 

[Bovisand]

Thanks Lenny for the fulsome response.

 

[MyrtleGuru]

Went for the first time last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Definitely good fun to dress up -- most people did and there were some fantastic outfits on show. Could just sit there all day admiring the costumes. We had to lend some tools to the girls in the tent next door so they could assemble their clothing rail, as they had different vintage outfits for each day to store.

Really enjoyed the music too. Some great acts to enjoy in a very relaxed atmosphere.

One downside was we booked late, so ended up pitched a very long way from the action, but came back fitter!

For us the facilities seemed very good (toilets, water, black & grey disposal, all main routes covered in temporary roadway, so not driving in churned up mud), but we are used to more roughing-it type festivals, so our standards might be lower than others

And it did rain -- quite heavily. When it did we stuck it out using traditional cycling capes -- that way you can sit in a chair, with the cape covering both you and the chair. When the rain got bad the outside dance floors were closed for safety reasons. There are also indoor/covered venues -- but these got a bit crowded when it rained.

 

[DiggerJon]

Take a good torch as it can be a long walk back to your MH in pitch black and pouring rain. I've been twice and it's great fun, even if you don't "dress up". Lots of varied music types, all live music by great bands. Be prepared for very long queues to get in- and out - but it is very well marshalled once you are in. Have fun, and enjoy!

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[Lenny HB]

as they had different vintage outfits for each day to store.

I thought everyone did that, we do.

And if we take one of our daughters I have to empty our the garage, leave the bikes at home to get the clothes rack and all the clothes in.

 

[poki]

We went last year for the first time as its only 15 miles from us... Its probably not too bad if its good weather but it rained when we were there and it does tend to get muddy not really my idea of fun sitting in the rain listening to music. Most of the people do dress up, As Lenny said you do need to get there early to avoid queues and traffic waiting to get in and to get nearer to the top as it is a long walk from the bottom of B field, we got there at 9.40am and only 2 vehicles in front of us so got in quickly, by 12,00 there was a 2 mile traffic jam blocking the roads and roundabout in and the police were called to sort it would we go again nah ..We prefer the retro's at Newark n Newbury but unfortunately we had to pull out of the Newark one today

 

[Lenny HB]

Need some R&R after, we always come back shattered after spending 4 days & evening dancing.
Terry's late night lounge is good he plays 78's, finishes when security chuck everyone out normally 2:30 - 3:00 am.

 

[MyrtleGuru]

Sticky Wicket was impressive:

Sticky Wicket _ Drumnastics

It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

www.youtube.com

 

[Lenny HB]

Sticky Wicket was impressive:

Sticky Wicket _ Drumnastics

It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

www.youtube.com

They are always good, one of our dancing friends often sings with them.

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[Bovisand]

Thanks everyone for your input and very useful advice.

 

[Lenny HB]

would we go again nah ..We prefer the retro's at Newark n Newbury but unfortunately we had to pull out of the Newark one today

We prefer the Retro now days even though the dancing is not as good. Only do the Newbury one, weather to iffy at the beginning of June to risk a festival.

 

[poki]

yes agree

 

[MyrtleGuru]

Looks like Twinwood will be a hot, sunny one this year.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks like Twinwood will be a hot, sunny one this year.

That will be a miracle, did Twinwood 6 years on the trot weather was always abismal.
Just looked up the forecast, good weather but going to be very hot for dancing.

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[MyrtleGuru]

That will be a miracle, did Twinwood 6 years on the trot weather was always abismal.
Just looked up the forecast, good weather but going to be very hot for dancing.

Wow it was hot! By the last day there was very little movement among the audience A shame that a lot of the blokes' suits and uniforms had to be abandoned -- in favour of Hawaian shirts in most cases, it seems.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Wow it was hot! By the last day there was very little movement among the audience A shame that a lot of the blokes' suits and uniforms had to be abandoned -- in favour of Hawaian shirts in most cases, it seems.

I thought I was going to expire! Even the showers too hot to use as the water in the tanks being boiled.
Internal van temperature read 43 deg C at one point.
The advance tip we needed, but nobody said, was to take two chairs each! One to leave in the arena and one to leave at camper. We had to carry ours about.

Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the music. Cockney sing song took me right back to my childhood.

 

[Lenny HB]

uniforms had to be abandoned -- in favour of Hawaian shirts in most cases, it seems.

Quite normal as it was Pearl Harbour that brought the yanks into the war.

The advance tip we needed, but nobody said, was to take two chairs each! One to leave in the arena and one to leave at camper. We had to carry ours about.

Chairs! Never bothered with them always spent most of the time dancing.

Sounds like you both had a good time. You should have lost a few pounds dancing in that heat.

As well as the bad weather we always had, we thought it had lost its way when they started putting on 60's & Soul music. When we started going it was billed as The Glen Miller & Jive Festival.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I would have liked to be able to go to some of the smaller venues, however always too full to get in. I can imagine if wet, this situation would be even worse.

 

[PJGWiltshire]

We had a great weekend but could not venture out on the Monday until 5.00pm it was just so hot.
Had not been for 8 years and wow the number of campers was amazing. The bands up the Control tower stage were brilliant and Si Cranstaun was worth a watch

Will go again.

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