Words by Isy Connor
Photos by Bethan Miller and Zachariah Mahrouche
From artists big and small, to indie and rock, fairgrounds and food, Bludfest had it all!
Bludfest is Yungblud’s very own festival. The event was aimed to bring people together through music while also keeping ticket prices as low as possible and 30,000 people flooded into the Milton Keynes Bowl attracted by the stellar lineup and ticket prices of no more than £50.
“I believe music should be (available) for everyone. Fact. It should be for absolutely everyone, or at least accessible to everyone.” Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison) says.
Dominic’s ethos is based on supporting and loving one another; it is about acceptance. It was pure love and delight to see so many individuals from all walks of life and all ages come together.
There was an array of artists performing across different genres, and to be as inclusive as possible Bludfest catered for all ages and tastes. With artists such as Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Yachty, pop rock icon Nessa Barret and the punk rock band The Damned. As well as up-and-coming artists such as the extremely talented, London-based alternative/indie musician Aziya. And of course, Yungblud himself.
Away from the main stage, I was able to see some smaller artists on stage 2 and the busking stage. Many people at the festival, myself included loved the smaller acts just as much as the main acts, like Landon Barker, and my favourite artist, Aziya. She had an amazing stage presence and was very engaging with the crowd, my favourite song she performed was Crush. Both artists put on a great show.
The busking stage was right next to a model version of Dom’s favourite Camden pub, The Hawley Arms, where you could drink some of his very own beer. There was also a clothing store selling his first apparel line, and a Gibson guitar shop.
The setup at Milton Keynes Bowl was spectacular. There were a plethora of attractions. I was bewildered by the abundance of food and drink available, plus a fairground. I loved the idea of the make-a-friend tent, which allows people to meet and chill while engaging in activities such as making friendship bracelets. This festival provided an incredible opportunity for me to meet people from all backgrounds. Everyone was polite and helpful, and I felt extremely safe.
Performing in a place amongst the greats such as Green Day, David Bowie and Oasis at the Milton Keynes Bowl, Yungblud had some big shoes to fill, and he did just that with his emotional performance and relatable lyrics. He was highly involved with his audience, even getting fans to join him on stage to play the guitar as he performed Fleabag. My favourite song he performed was The Funeral. His energy on stage was infectious throughout the crowd, and it was a fantastic performance to end an astounding first-ever Bludfest.
