Eridge Park, Kent – 14-16 June 2024
Now in its fifth year, with headliners Joe Bonamassa, Sheryl Crow and Rufus Wainwright, it seems that Black Deer Festival in Eridge Park, Kent, has really found its place.
Not only offering a wide choice of music across the weekend but also a literal taste of Americana with live cooking demos on the The Livefire stage as well as both a hotdog and a chilli eating contest along with some classic American vehicles on show around the site.
The festival had a great relaxed feel and is situated in one of the prettiest festival sites that I know of. The staff were very friendly and I must also offer a ‘tip of the stetson’ to the production teams that delivered flawless sound throughout the weekend across all six stages – that’s right – six! As you would expect at a modern festival, there was plenty of great food choices and lots to do while waiting for your favourite band including fairground rides, and stalls where you could buy clothing and jewellery.
As well as the headliners, the main stage brought quite a variety of acts including some of the best of British Country, The Shires and Ward Thomas, folk from The Staves and the beautifully hypnotic sounds of Hermanos Gutiérez, along with American bluesman Seasick Steve, not to mention country royaly, Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal and Sundays openers, Fleetwood Bac who had one of the largest crowds of the day.
The largest tented stage, The Ridge, was always popular and had some great acts, Jalen Ngonda and JJ Grey & Mofro both packing the tent, there were also great performances from Dale Watson & his Lonestars and When Rivers Meet also put on a great show.
Indeed, there were jaw-dropping performances spread across every stage. At times it seemed like the event organisers had collected every performer from the Nashville area and flown them across the Atlantic to Eridge Park for our entertainment. Cody Pennington, Pat Reedy and many others putting on great shows on both large stages and small.
If blues and country music is your thing, or even just music set in the beautiful English countryside then you should really put next year’s event in your calendar.
For more info, visit:
www.blackdeerfestival.com
