The British festival scene is one of the most thriving in the world.
Our small green island plays host to some of the most famous events in the world of music, and there isn’t really a country that can beat us in terms of variety, inventiveness, or sheer enthusiasm.
Within that plethora of fests you’ll always find the big names like V Festival, Glastonbury, Bestival, Leeds, Download, and Reading, but there are plenty of intriguing hidden gems that help make the scene so truly inimitable and downright British.
One of the most unique is Indietracks. This fantastic summer music festival combines indiepop music with steam trains, so there really is nothing quite like it. If you fancy getting in on the action, head to the Midland Railway Centre in the heart of Derbyshire from 29-31 July. Each year around 50 new and established indiepop artists perform across a whole set of stages, but that’s only one small part of the draw.
Visitors will be able to take a break to enjoy steam train rides, railway attractions, and museums to slake their interest in something a little different. There are also discos, art and crafts workshops, and a fine selection of eateries offering delicious snacks, meals, and, most welcome of all, a strong selection of real ales. Starting to see why we think this is such a good one?
Former performers have included Teenage Fanclub, Camera Obscura, The Go! Team, The Vaselines, Slow Club, and Emmy The Great. The event is now in its 10th year, so you can expect even more acts for the 2016 extravaganza. Saint Etienne, The Aislers Set, The Spook School, Emma Pollock, Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern, Comet Gain, The Lovely Eggs, Flowers, and plenty of others will be bringing their sounds to this year’s Indietracks.
Perhaps best of all, since this is one likely to appeal to a fair few parents, Indietracks is an all-ages festival. Even those under 18 years are welcomed, although any under-16s will have to be accompanied by an adult.
This might not be the place you head to if you’re looking to rock out to Slayer or dance to Rihanna, but Indietracks offers a relaxed atmosphere and one of the most inviting crowds around. Even if steam power isn’t your thing, this one is well worth a look.