It's just over a month since Brownstock Festival in Essex closed the farm gates after their most successful weekend. The festival on the Brown family's farm in Essex was rammed to capacity on the first weekend in September. And from their 5000 visitors they've had nothing but rave reviews. The festival showed that size isn't everything.  'I am going to Brownstock instead of V next year' has been been a frequent claim. 

The festival added new areas which added to the cosy feel. Most popular, the new Piano Bar. A  sitting room in the campsite with a big grand piano, comfy sofas, board games and some really unusual and musical acts, as well as the chance for people to play themselves. Two decorational pianos placed outside the bar were played by festival goers (some unbelievably talented) until the small hours of Saturday night, with happy campers singing along.

Many performers were local too. Looking back the Brown family explain that the managed to find musicians, comedians, stilt-walkers, street dancers, and storytellers who are all from a 5 mile radius. But the lovely thing about Brownstock 2011, which was different from its previous years, was that 30% of visitors had come from outside the county. The festival really was a chance showcase just what a talented bunch Esssexites are.

Adam Brown, who runs the festival with his sisters Jessica and Anna said 'This year we learnt that some things you can't plan. Festivals are like little villages and The Piano Bar felt like The Local. People watched Example on the main stage, then literally popped in for a drink on the way home'.

Meanwhile Example headed back stage to his own personal Mongolian yurt to chill out (fish pedicures included). In Example's exclusive interview he tells Brownstock's Music Director Mat Dixon that he is pretty impressed with his boudoir . The interview released this weekend can be viewed here. 

A limited number of winter special Brownstock 2012 tickets are now on sale – 6 months earlier than ever before. £52 for an full weekend camping. On sale a week, and half have been sold already – so there's some serious excitement about in the air. Adam Brown said, 'At the moment our capacity is going to stay at 5000. We sold out in 2011 at this size and judging by early sales we hope the same thing will happen a lot earlier for 2012'. 

Brownstock is on the nomination list for the UK's Fan's Favourite Festival Award. The family are pleased as the competition is very fair, and doesn't favour bigger festivals. The festival with the highest percentage of its visitor's voting wins. Which means that in Brownstock's mind they have just as much chance as Glastonbury. So if you did go along and enjoyed yourself, make sure pop by and stick your paw in the air for them at http://www.festivalawards.com/vote/. Voting closes tonight (10th Oct).

The festival has regular updates on their facebook page www.facebook.com/brownstock or on their own Festivals For All page

Winter Special Tickets available from here