Supernormal brands itself ‘a festival like no other’ and in this case it’s not just PR hype. The three-day event, taking place at Braziers Park (just south of Wallingford) on 10-12 August 2012, can be adequately and accurately summed up with a few choice phrases from their press release. We don’t normally do this kind of regurgitating of press release copy, but they’ve said it all just so well…
“Taking place in the grounds of a 17th century mansion with countercultural links that span decades, it moves to a spirit of utopianism and imagination all-too-often forgotten in the 21st century here-and-now. As Wire magazine had it ‘An entirely positive and rare experience, and a world away from corporate involvement of any kind, Supernormal is a genuine temporary autonomous zone’.”
“An intimate event for an audience of five hundred, a non-profit event entirely organised and curated by a small network of artists and musicians who share its aims and ethos.”
“A world away from the financially motivated and nondescript British festival circuit, Supernormal replaces its humdrum and increasingly played-out atmosphere with a vibrant sense of adventure; a refreshing, unique experience somewhere between an early 70s Glastonbury and an eccentric village fete. In short, Supernormal is the alternative’s alternative.”
What does that mean in terms of music? Well, a pretty amazingly diverse and impressive lineup that so far includes the following confirmed acts:
- Bilge Pump
- Black Octagon
- Black Tempest (Space Opera)
- Bleeding Heart Narrative
- Bugbrand
- Caroline Weeks
- Cold Pumas
- CoverGirl
- Dagger Brothers
- Dr Bluegrass & The Illbilly 8
- Embla Quickbeam
- Fairhorns
- Fat Bicth
- Gary Goodman + Nick Hudson
- Gigantes
- Hamilton Yarns
- Hey Colossus
- James Blackshaw
- Jimmy the Fingers
- Joeyfat
- Jon Wood
- Juke 2000
- Kogumaza
- La La Vasquez
- Lonesome Cowboys From Hell
- Mary Hampton Cotillion
- Patrick Fitzgerald
- Plurals
- Purson
- Sauna Youth
- Seefeel
- DJ Scotch Bonnet
- Shudder Pulps
- Sly and the Family Drone
- Sticks
- Stig Noise
- Sweet Williams
- Sylvester Anfang II
- The Black Neck Band of the Common Loon
- The Cosmic Dead
- The Family Elan
- The Pheromoans
- The Telescopes / One Unique Signal
- The Wandering Hand Society
- Trojan Horse
- Twenty One Crows
- Undersmile
- VENTS (Emily Breeze)
- Woolf
- Workin Man Noise Unit
- You’re Smiling Now But We’ll All turn into DEMONS
(Yes, they did sneak Seefeel into that list… cor)
There’s a lot more information available at the Supernormal website, from where you can also purchase tickets for just £65 for the entire three-day event. Children under 13 get in free, with a paying adult.
The organisers are also looking for volunteers to help “organise the festival, build the site, run the event and clear it all away again afterwards”. If you’re interested in contributing in that way, go here for more information.
Here’s a nifty video that’s been put together to tempt you along to Supernormal 2012: