STANDON CALLING

31st July - 2nd August 2015

The Standon story begins with the birthday barbecue of Festival Founder Alex Trenchard. Alex says he never planned to create a festival. It was always a party for his friends that somehow spiralled out of control, gathering unstoppable momentum over the years. But if you ask Alex when Standon became a festival, he is in no doubt.

 

"In 2006 the festival was still very much a garden party on the lawn of the Lordship. Okay, we had a stage and bands but it was all happening on the lawn. Do Me Bad Things headlined and after they finished their set we cut the lights so that everyone thought it was all over. We had actors dressed as fairies beckon the audience down to a secret stage hidden in a circle of chestnut trees at midnight. Fireworks lit up the sky and prog rock band The Early Years added a psychedlic backing track."

 

"I still remember people’s eyes opening up and that sense of excitement — that palpable sense of wonder on people's faces as we walked down the hill to the secret glade. This was not what they had been expecting. They had been expecting to go back to their tent, go to sleep, get laid, whatever. And suddenly there was a whole new chapter. Standon Calling had burst the banks of the Lordship Lawn and a festival was born." 

 

Since then we have grown from word of mouth and continue to flourish, but we retain our original ethos and commitment to championing new artists. You'll see the freshest talent here before anyone else – Florence and the Machine, Friendly Fires, Mumford and Sons, Bastille, Metronomy, London Grammar, Clean Bandit, Anna Calvi, The Maccabees, Mr Hudson and Paloma Faith all had their start at Standon.

 

Our camping fields are well equipped with showers, loos (clean and green) and recycling points. All tickets include camping, but if you would prefer to leave your tent at home, try our luxury boutique camping service. 

 

Just 40 minutes north of London in the heart of the British countryside. We are easy to access by train, car, taxi and even by bike.

 

There’s plenty of excitement for all ages this year, with more announcements on the way