The annual folk festival is warming up in Beverley
We spoke to Director Jim Pybus to find out what we can look forward to this weekend.
Tribfest is back for its 11th year, attracting music fans from across the country. We spoke to Ed Faulkner, Festival Director, to find out what’s in store.
The four-day event, which centres around tribute acts, has had much success over the years, repeatedly drawing in crowds of thousands each time.
“At Tribfest, there’s truly something for everyone,” Ed tells us. “We have all types of bands from all sorts of genres across several stages.”
Situated in the beautiful grounds of Sledmere House, which dates back to the 1790s, Tribfest promises a unique experience as the world’s biggest tribute music festival.
This year, over fifty tribute bands will perform on the Main Stage and in the VIP Big Top tent. Renowned acts such as Kazabian, AC/DC UK, J.D. King’s Elvis and Totally Tina will headline the weekend. Meanwhile, homage will be paid to other popular groups such as The Beautiful South, Paramore, The Jam and Simple Minds.
“It’s the ultimate fantasy festival for music lovers. You get to hear and join in with all the anthems. It’s just one huge sing-a-long really,” Ed continues.
On top of all this, a whole lineup of unsigned artists, acoustic musicians and comedy acts will provide entertainment. The Freedom Road Marquee platforms under-20s talent, whilst the Laughing Bull hosts more than thirty standup sets.
There will also be a fantastic Kidzone offering a wide range of exciting activities for young families. Children can take part in all sorts of creative crafts, such as banner painting, finger puppet making, air-dry clay modelling and fascinating magic shows.
“It’s also our first year of putting on Bubble Football, which should be fun,” laughs Ed.
Audiences at this year’s event will be part of a full-length feature film. Scenes are to be filmed on Saturday at the Main Stage, just after the final band has finished.
“Tribfest definitely suits those on a budget, especially families and large groups. The mainstream festivals tend to cost a lot more,” Ed explains.
“It can cost around a grand for a family of four to attend Glastonbury, and that’s without the additional costs that come with camping. Meanwhile, our weekend tickets start from just £85 for an adult.”
The boutique celebration has a capacity limit of 5,000, making it a much more controlled environment and safer for festival-goers: “We make sure the toilets are clean, there’s a lot of security onsite, and we have hot showers too.”
There’s an array of camping options to suit all needs at Tribfest, including glamping packages: “We’re one of the only festivals to provide an electric hook-up for caravans,” Ed enthuses. “People want a little bit more from festivals these days, and we strive to offer this for our ticket-holders.”
Tribfest takes place from Thursday 17 until Sunday 20 August. For a full lineup and to purchase tickets, please head to the Tribfest website.