LIVE (Photos): Deer Shed Festival 2023 (Day 2: 29.07.2023)

Having fallen in love with North Yorkshire festival Deer Shed when I attended for the first time last year, I was super glad I got to go again this year. Highlighting a real family focus, whilst hosting an incredible range of exciting new artists, it oozes the warmest of vibes and – being smaller in size than most other festivals – creates a space that feels comfortingly intimate; an inclusive safe haven for artists and fans of all genres and ages. Whilst providing a child-friendly environment (with an array of activities organised specifically for them), this does not take away from the quality and array of performances on offer for everyone to enjoy. Although I’d say I’m in the minority of attendees who does not have children (or isn’t a child themselves!), I in no way feel this to be hindrance – it is still very much an ‘adult’ festival, just one that happens to also be a safe and fun environment for kids to be in too! And, amongst those performing, a fantastic amount of female, non binary and queer performers are represented, which makes for a pretty dreamy time. I was lucky enough to catch lots of these over the weekend – a good balance of artists I already knew and loved, and those who I had not had the chance to see before.

Kicking things off nice and early at the In The Dock stage, Sister Wives rouse the senses with their evocative ethereal soundscapes. With their quirky charisma and glistening soaring harmonies, the Cardiff-via-Sheffield band offer a unique fusion of traditional folk-inspired musicality with a gritty, fierce energy, all delivered with a mystical, bewitching allure.

After a refreshing local beer, and with a glimmer of sunshine poking through the clouds, we catch the lilting uplifting energy of Rozi Plain on the main stage, as a soothing twinkling grace emanates throughout the swaying crowd.

With the sun now in full force, we return to the main stage to catch another Welsh band – I’m very excited to finally see Panic Shack, having been a fan of their frenzied tongue-in-cheek post punk for a couple of years now. Fully aware of the age range of the crowd, they kick things off with the perfectly anti-conventional ‘Baby’; there’s a weird sort of irony seeing kids on their parents’ shoulders bopping and singing along to “I don’t wanna hold your baby / Kids are not for everyone”, and I’m instantly in love with the fierce tenacity of this band. Apologising for some naughty words throughout the set (“Hope the kids have ear defenders on”), they blast through each song with an immense ferocious energy – from the synchronised statuesque poses of ‘Mannequin Man’, to the martial arts-inspired dance moves of ‘Jiu Jits You’, Panic Shack deliver each angst-driven, subtly political anthem with a searing riotous power and infectious sneering wit. A total must-see live band, and probably my highlight of the weekend. (A stand out moment for me being hearing a child ask their mum “what’s baccy?” after ‘Who’s Got My Lighter?’ closes the fantastic set.)

After all that excitement, and perhaps the tastiest vegan hot dog I’ve ever had (with extra pickles of course), we head to The Lodge tent for a chilled out interlude. I’ve been meaning to see Hussy for a while, so I’m very glad that she made it here – having had two trains cancelled, but “with perseverance we can get there in the end”. Exuding an effervescent grace as her dreamy offerings showcase her rich emotive vocals, it’s a beautifully stirring set oozing a shimmering musicality reminiscent of the likes of Lucy Dacus.

Continuing the dreamy vibes, it’s a delight to catch This Is The Kit for the first time in long while (I last saw them at the Southbank Centre about eight years ago, when a woman shouted at me for accidentally spilling my drink on her. So, I’m looking forward to a less traumatic set this time…!) With an endearing charm and witty birthday trivia interweaved in between each beautiful song, Kit and co immerse the crowd in their sparkling, uplifting energy as each track flows with a blissful allure.

Then it’s back to the In The Dock stage for total faves Sprints; having caught them live in Belfast at the Women’s Work Showcase last year, I couldn’t wait to catch their electrifying energy live again; and I wasn’t to be disappointed. Warmed by the sight of a front row filled with excitable teenage girls and pals lightly moshing, I’m once again grateful to Deer Shed for offering this experience to young people who wouldn’t necessarily get the chance to see live music of this kind normally; to see a band like Sprints, and a front person like Karla Chubb, inspiring and motivating young people gives me a bit of hope that everything is not quite so bad after all… From more familiar songs like ‘Literary Mind’ and ‘How Does The Story Go?’ to brand new, unreleased songs, the band race through the set with a truly compelling fierce energy as Chubb’s distinctive gritty vocals and empowering stage presence take hold. And, as if that wasn’t enough, we’re also treated to special guest stage invasion from English Teacher, who join Sprints for a magnificent mash-up of Wet Leg’s ‘Chaise Longue’ with Le Tigre’s ‘Deceptacon’. Pretty epic.

We return to The Lodge tent to absorb the glitchy, euphoric soundscapes of Glasgow’s Free Love. As bouquets of flowers are torn apart and showered over the crowd, trippy ethereal vibes emanate from the trio as I’m taken back to a ’90s French Disko and contentedly dance along with the kind of gentle confidence that only really comes from being in a field surrounded by live music and happy (slightly inebriated) fellow festival goers.

We end the night with the uplifting funk-fuelled sounds of all female jazz collective All Day Breakfast Cafe. With a playful energy, the band deliver a fantastic array of songs, showcasing each of their incredible musical talents and Jelly Cleaver’s artful skill of creating instantly catchy, nostalgic-yet-fresh takes on a mix of genres, all rooted in the empowering unity of the disco movement. As the all-ages crowd dance along in blissful unity (some people even winning pain au chocolats for their efforts!) to each colourful offering, the band’s effervescent energy spreads throughout the tent; a perfect way to close a joyous day of festivalling. And we even get a sneak peek of their upcoming new single, ‘Sweet Revenge’, set for release on 16th August – so, keep your ears and eyes peeled!


So, thank you Deer Shed for another gorgeous weekend, I’ll see you again next year (not even holding it against you that I came back with Covid…)! Stay tuned for photos of, and words about, Day 3! And see our review of Day 1 here.


Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @pauldawesart

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LIVE: Deer Shed Festival 2022 (Day 2: 30.07.22)

It’s been a while since I attended a festival… Obviously, there were so many cancellations throughout the last couple of years due the pandemic, and I missed out on 2019 as I was busy hosting my own (well, my wedding which I aimed to be as festival-like as possible). So, this year I was desperate to find one that was as lovely as possible and suited my needs of being perhaps a little older than the average festival-goer without missing out on any of the best new music. Sadly, the last festival I went to in 2018, and my favourite ever festival experience – Indie Tracks – did not survive Covid, and so I was looking for a replacement; something equally as inclusive, chilled-out, family friendly, and of course hosting plenty of amazing female and non-binary bands and artists. And then I came across Deer Shed… And it was just what I was after! Highlighting a real family-friendly focus, whilst hosting an incredible range of exciting new artists, the North Yorkshire based Deer Shed perfectly filled the festival-shaped-void I’d been feeling for the last few years.

Although the second day of Deer Shed got off to a rather damp start, this wasn’t going to dampen our spirits, with a day of such lush live music ahead of us. Kicking things off at the In The Dock stage, it’s a new discovery for me: the dreamy, ethereal scuzz of trio Honeyglaze. Delivering shimmering shoegaze-tinged soundscapes that build with a raw emotion, they leave me captivated and eager to hear more.

Our first outing to the Lodge Stage sees us treated to the majestic grace of Marianne Parish – aka Maja Lena. With her beautifully sweeping alt-folk musings propelled by resplendent vocals and exquisite layers of intricate instrumentation, her set offers a perfectly comforting shelter from the pouring rain outside.

Having enjoyed the joyous energy of London African collective Balimaya Project earlier today, we return to the main stage for Irish pop artist CMAT – one of the performances I’ve been most looking forward to this weekend, and she doesn’t disappoint. Taking to the stage to the sound of Shania Twain’s ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman’ (just like ARXX at our gig last week!), she gleefully introduces herself – “Hi, it’s me – Shania Twain!” – as she’s welcomed by excited yelps from a front row of adoring young fans. And I feel a rush of comforting warmth come over me – seeing the pure elation in these young girls’ faces, just being in the presence of their heroine, brings me a lot of joy; the fact that they have a pop icon (though she labels herself a “country singer”) to look up to with as much humour, humility and empowering energy as CMAT – the unified warmth of Deer Shed and its family-friendly focus making it possible for these experiences to happen. And, as the set continues – complete with impromptu romantic dances between CMAT and her keyboardist, and Beyonce-inspired “pop show” manoeuvres – I find myself pretty much falling head over heels with the all the fun-filled charisma and joyous energy emanating from the stage, whilst singing along to tongue-in-cheek anthems such as ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy’ and ‘Peter Bogdanovich’.

After some delicious ‘Phat Thai’ from vegan food stand ‘Earthworm Kitchen’, I’m ready for another Irish highlight of the weekend – Denise Chaila. Accompanied by two other rappers and a DJ on stage, Chaila immediately has the crowd fully immersed and singing along with her immense, gritty anthems. Propelled a swirling drive, she combines a tongue-in-cheek wit with poignant cultural references, whilst charming the crowd between songs – and even teaching us a bit of Irish Gaelic (and I realise I’ve been saying ‘Anseo’ wrong all this time…). Oozing a beautifully compelling energy as the unashamed confidence of her lyrics flows with ease, she creates a joyous atmosphere, which is only heightened when one of her crew launches (with care) into the crowd, much to the delight of the buoyant youngsters in the front rows who dance around him with glee. A truly memorable set that leaves me feeling elated and inspired.

Completing my run of epic pop icons, it’s time for Self Esteem on the main stage – a moment I’ve been looking forward to ever since becoming addicted to her Mercury Award nominated album Prioritise Pleasure last year. Welcomed by a sea of whoops from the adoring crowd as she takes to the stage accompanied by her entourage of fantastic dancers (one of whom is GIHE fave Seraphina Simone) and musicians, she immediately radiates a shimmering, vibrant charisma as she delivers a truly empowering set with a fierce emotion. Between moments of finding tears rolling down my cheeks whilst singing along to inspiring anthems such as ‘I Do This All The Time’, and grinning from cheek to cheek as she dedicates the set to her friend’s young daughter (who happens to be on the shoulders of her parents next to us), I’m utterly mesmerised by the magnificent performance. Not only is Self Esteem an incredible and thought-provoking songwriter, but her exquisitely choreographed set and glistening stage presence mark her out as a completely unique modern pop star.

Ending the day’s musical delights, we return to the Lodge Stage for the lilting Americana-tinged folk of Samantha Crain. Delivering her beautifully strummed melodies with a stirring warmth, the impassioned subtle power of her rich vocals flows with a captivating raw emotion. As Crain’s immersive lyrical storytelling emanates alongside twinkling hooks and a rustic charm, each offering graces the heartstrings with a comforting allure.

Thanks to Deer Shed for another wonderful day of live music! Stay tuned for our review of the third and final day of the festival!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @paullikesrobots

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INTERVIEW: Megan Evans of Deer Shed Festival

It’s been a while since I attended a festival… Obviously, there were so many cancellations throughout the last couple of years due the pandemic, and I missed out on 2019 as I was busy hosting my own (well, my wedding which I aimed to be as festival-like as possible). So, this year I was desperate to find one that was as lovely as possible and suited my needs of being perhaps a little older than the average festival-goer without missing out on any of the best new music. Sadly, the last festival I went to in 2018, and my favourite ever festival experience – Indie Tracks – did not survive Covid, and so I was looking for a replacement; something equally as inclusive, chilled-out, family friendly, and of course hosting plenty of amazing female and non-binary bands and artists. And then I came across Deer Shed… And I cannot wait to attend for the first time next month!

A festival with a real family-friendly focus, whilst hosting an incredible range of exciting new artists – as well as an array of comedy, spoken word, literary and theatrical shows – it seems like the perfect fit.

We caught up with festival organiser Megan Evans to talk more about Deer Shed’s roots, its ethos and inclusive line-up, some of the most special Deer Shed moments of years gone by, and more… Have a read below, and have a listen to our special Deer Shed 2022 playlist , featuring some of our personal faves who’ll be playing at the festival, at the bottom of this feature!

Hi Megan! 2022 will be Deer Shed’s 12th year – congrats! Can you tell us a bit about what Deer Shed is all about, and how it all started out?
Thanks! Deer Shed was started by our founders Kate & Oliver after they struggled to find a festival environment that was right for their kids but that didn’t compromise on cool and interesting music and culture programming for them. So, thats very much the goal of the festival – to create a festival environment that is accessible and exciting for all ages and groups, whether that’s families with kids of any ages or groups of adults with no kids in tow. Our family friendly festival content doesn’t look down on or condescend  and our music line up (we like to think!) is about as current and exciting as it can be. We’ve found it really works though it can lead to some funny situations, especially challenging our comedians to deliver PG sets to families who are unafraid of some audience interaction…

What strikes me about Deer Shed and makes it stand out against other festivals at the moment is the good gender balance of the line up – was there an intentional and specific decision to do this, or does it just naturally pan out that way?
We’ve strived for a 50/50 gender line up for years now which, while we’re mindful about achieving that, we also feel has happened very naturally and organically. Our focus is becoming more about looking at our line ups from a point of view of how inclusive, diverse & neurodivergent our performers are, both across the music line up and the arts and comedy. Gender parity of booking is something we have to be aware of, but it naturally also happens as our wish list each year always has more female and non-binary artists than male. Like everyone, we can always do better though and we still have work to do to making sure the line up across the board is as inclusive as possible. It’s something the whole festival industry has to be aware of and do better at. It’s no good saying that there aren’t enough female headliners or that its hard to find female headliners, that’s just lazy booking in my opinion. As festivals we have the ability to put our faith in artists and make them headliners – we’re not powerless in this situation.

Over the last 11 years, you’ve hosted some amazing bands and artists including Anna Calvi, Adult Mom, Sunflower Bean, Big Joanie, Ezra Furman, The Go Team! and Honeyblood, but has there been a particular set that stands out for you as a personal highlight over the years? 
There are so many! So if I’m allowed a few…
Kae Tempest headlining Saturday night as the rain started to come down was incredible, it was so atmospheric and beautiful… like it was meant to happen. School of Seven Bells is another highlight. We always say Deer Shed is a great place to discover new bands and I was just in my infancy of working for Deer Shed back then, this band just nailed it and I remained a loyal fan ever since. Their final and last album Ghostory was stunning. Anna Clavi headlining in 2019 with that album was amazing – the lighting and sound is one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to and god the guitar playing is mesmerising. Ibibio Sound Machine, when we did a massive flash mob with the audience to ‘Give Me Reason’, was one of my highlights of the last ten years; audiences young and old had learnt this dance routine for this specific time in front of the main stage. Joan As Policewoman – I love her! When she came to Deer Shed and headlined the Lodge Stage I was completely star struck. Honourable mentions also for Lone Lady and She Drew the Gun.

And this year you’ve got some GIHE faves playing – Self Esteem, Nadine Shah, Denise Chaila, Billy Nomates, The Lovely Eggs and CMAT… Curating such awesome line ups must be a lot of work – how do you normally go about it? Is it all based on bands/artists that have got in touch with you over the year? 
We always have a wish list each year and we try to see as much as we can live. We’ll often head down to Leeds to the Brudenell or head to over other festivals or city based new music events like Great Escape to check out some of the artists we’re keen to bring to the festival. We keep a very close eye on new music being released and like to think we’ve developed good relationships and reputations with booking agencies whose rosters we rate. Really though, it always comes to what an act is like live, that’s where you can find some of the real gems. 

And for any upcoming bands/artists looking to apply for festivals next year, do you have any tips? 
More generally I would say spend your time reaching out to the right people in the right way rather than blanket emailing everyone in the world – find the festivals where artists you love are playing, work on a pitch and keep going! Festivals get a huge amount of unsolicited submissions, don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back!
Specifically for Deer Shed I would say email us (after July!!!) –  we can’t always reply to emails, but we are planning to launch an emerging artist comp for our 2023 event, so keep you eyes peeled. 

There seems to be a definite focus on making the festival as family-friendly as possible – what inspired the idea to do this, and stand out from other festivals in this way? 
We have always said that the festival should have the cross-generational appeal of a Pixar film, so we would say we are more of a festival for everyone, but especially if you’re a music fan and have children. The festival is for music fans but there’s so much other programming to get involved in and watch which is specially curated for families, everyone should have a great weekend! 

Do you feel much has changed over the last few years in the music industry’s treatment of new artists, particularly female and non-binary artists? 
Yes and no. It’s good that this has been identified, and organisations such as Key Change are in place to make noise and create positive changes in the way people of marginalised genders have been treated. Though the industry itself has a long way to go, agents along with promoters and festivals have to work together to make sure there is a connection and progression of acts across these areas. We all have a responsibility for this – there’s no excuses to not address these issues and create a more equitable and representative space for our artists. 

Finally, as we’re a new music focused site, are there any particular new bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
For artists playing at Deer Shed this year, I would say: Kobi Onyame, Brooke Combe, Mickey Callisto, Balimaya Project, CMAT, The Bug Club, Cortney Dixon, Beija Flo, Bess Atwell, CVC…  Outside of that, more generally, I’m really loving Lynks, Kills Birds, Taahliah, Bicurious, GUSTAF, English teacher & Dreya MAC at the moment! 

Massive thanks to Megan for answering our questions – we can’t wait to have the most wonderful time at Deer Shed festival next month! Deer Shed this year runs from 29th – 31st July in Baldersby Park North Yorkshire. Find out more information and get tickets at their website.

Listen to our special Deer Shed playlist here:

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