Throwing Shapes at the Square Festival

One of the best boutique parties around this summer had to be The Square Festival. Happy happenings were aplenty on the Borth Bog just five miles north of Aberystwyth on the Cardigan coastline. Major acts appearing at the event included Supergrass, The Joy Formidable and Two Tone legends The Beat.

 

The lay-out of this new festival couldn't be faulted. A great expanse of land but a bit soft underfoot with lots of bobbly ground to test one's dancing skills. A wide range of dance music styles and genres provided a rich mix to please almost everybody. The pleasing thing about The Square Festival had to be the space. Camped amongst a wealth of horse boxes converted into travelling homes we gladly reunited with some friends who had been at the Workhouse Festival in Powys a fortnight earlier.

 

With an old barbecue appliance turned into a little wood burner on an extended back porch we spent a happy evening unwinding and then later headed into the main festival area. A great site, again this has to be emphasised, with a fantastic variety to please the 3,000 festival-goers.

 

Saturday had a fine welcoming feel despite the over zealous nature of some of the security. But looking around the site, taking an afternoon massage courtesy of the local Red Cross volunteers, we soon ventured into the town of Borth across the railway line. As we headed away from the stage areas the clean, crisp quality of the sound carried well. Again the organisation and technique in terms of set-up and engineering were spot on.

 

A late afternoon dip in the cold, cold sea quickly ended and we perched on the Victoria Pub's beach beer garden terrace as the sun's warmth gave way to night. Sunday's music grabbed the attention and imagination. Highlights were Beth Jeans Houghton, Wrexham's The Roseville Band, lapping up the great sound, and a closing performance by The Beat had everyone dancing and moving in defiance of a wet old day.

 

The rain soon stopped though, everyone cheered and eventually the stewards all broke out in broad smiles....mission accomplished!