FESTIVAL-goers were rewarded with sunshine and a touch of magic around every corner at Ballinlough Castle in Co Westmeath over the weekend.
A festival favourite at Electric Picnic, the Body and Soul area was designed to offer respite to weary revellers during the hectic Electric Picnic schedule.
At the weekend, however, organisers proved the interactive mixture of art, music and workshops could not only succeed but excel as an intimate standalone festival.
Set in the woods and walled gardens surrounding Ballinlough Castle, Body and Soul Solstice Gathering catered for myriad tastes. From electronic to traditional music and dancing, and activities such as wood carving, yurt (Mongolian hut) building, children’s drum lessons and graffiti art, there was something on offer for everyone.
Around every corner trees, walls, tents and stages were decorated with a variety of novel art works while every nook and cranny of the site contained a visual surprise. Organisers even crafted their own main stage from materials sourced on site.
Throughout the maze of walled gardens, revellers basked in the sunshine, played hacky sack and soaked up the sights and sounds of the festival while sipping smoothies, mojitos and even wine produced in Straffan.
In the cool of the forest, refreshment was served in the form of hot tubs, massage and relaxing therapies. Revellers were also encouraged to try their hand at a wide range of arts and crafts.
An intimate festival with 1,500 attendees and 200 performers, the event attracted mainly 20- and 30-somethings. It also proved extremely popular with children.
Manager of Soul Kids, Gavin Pedersen, said the 160 children “just don’t want to go home, they love it”.
Organiser Avril Stanley believes the 50-50 mix of music and interactive entertainment is “reconfiguring what festivals are about”. She was delighted with the level of crowd participation.
“So many people got involved across the site in ways we didn’t even anticipate. So, it’s the start of something new, we will see where it takes us,” she said.
“I think it’s just that people want to go into a place where they feel cared for and they want to be able to try something new – to step out of who they are in their day to day lives.
“Our aspiration really over the next five years . . . is that 50-50 starts to eclipse more away from main stage and into participation, and to give up-and-coming acts the opportunity and highlighting the arts,” she added.
Features of the festival included the masquerade ball on Saturday night, fire performers and music from Irish stars such as Jape and RSAG along with legendary electronic act The Orb.
The phoenix fire ceremony marked the closing of the festival when a five-metre wooden phoenix was set alight in the orchard of the walled garden of Ballinlough.