There are quite a few festivals out there for us to enjoy these days, whether you’re a fan of pop, jazz, indie, unsigned artist, the arts and a whole host of other cultural extravaganzas available to us from across the country.  Here are Festivals for All, we’ve taken some time out to catch up with one of L Fest’s leading ladies who’s unveiled the story behind the festival, chatted to us about football crazy girlies, glamping, and exactly why L Fest is one of the years festivals that shouldn’t be missed! 

Thanks for chatting with us today Cindy, Could you tell us a bit of L Fest’s story? 

Our first L Fest was in 2011. I’ve always wanted to be an events organiser and always been interested in football. So I set up a football festival, Stanstock 7’s for women, which is now in its third year and attracts 400 women from all over the country. But I thought, the primary target audience here is lesbian football players and there are lots more lesbians out there who would enjoy a weekend of camping and fun but don’t play football… So L Fest was born!

It started as a camping and multi-sports event but snowballed into a Music and Arts Festival. I quickly met some great people who became part of the team – Helen Sandler, former Festival Director at YLAF (York Lesbian Arts festival), and Sal Hampson and Sue Gorbing from the Rainbow Film Festival – and L Fest grew overnight. 

Interesting! So, what makes this festival stand out against not only the hundreds of festivals that go on around the world, but also the other female focused festivals?

Firstly, we care! Our primary focus is customer satisfaction – and you can tell that from the fantastic feedback and rapport we now have with all of those who came last year.

Secondly, we are very diverse, with a great lineup of music, arts and authors, and even our own cinema. Then we have games, a climbing wall, archery, power kiting, riverboat cruises… What’s more this is ALL included in the ticket price.

Thirdly, the crew. I have an amazing group of friends who have all helped so much to get L Fest started, and they became the L Fest Crew. They tour the country doing promotions and advertising L Fest and they can chat to any girl in the room whilst wearing the magic green L Fest T-shirt. (It’s a hard job but someone’s got to do it!) When you arrive at L Fest you will be met by a crew member who will introduce you to people if you come on your own, or help you to the campsite with all your gear in our special pink wheelbarrows. 

Pink wheelbarrows!  That’s so cool. Who are you most excited about checking out at L Fest?

I haven’t got time to check anyone out! J Actually last year I didn’t get the time to see much, but this year I am delegating more, so I hope to get out there. We have a fantastic line up. Within the music we’re thrilled we have last year’s favourites back again: Jill Jackson and Christina Novelli. But I’m probably most excited to see the L Project girls performing their charity single, ‘It Does Get Better’, live. Their anti-bullying campaign is our chosen charity this year and all the acts involved are performing solo as well. I’m also very excited to see author Sarah Waters talking about her books. It’s fantastic that Sarah could come to our event and we are even having a ‘Tipping the Velvet masked ball’ in her honour. Think basques, top hat and tails, and music hall cabaret. I can’t wait for the Saturday night! 

Looks like there’s a load's going on.  I’ve seen your promotional vid, which was so great!  What made you decide to do a video in this format?

The video was taken and produced by Tiger Features. Nicky Prestage has been fantastic in making L Fest come to life on the video and we wanted to show the wide range of ages who enjoy our weekend. She has shot another great film for us – if you haven’t seen our A Team spoof video you must watch it: 

There has been a lot of speculation around the demise of the ‘Festival’ as we know it due to the amount that have been popping up. What do you think about this?

Yes I have heard that rumour, but we’re growing by the day. I don’t think we’re competing against anyone else. L Fest is a new concept. There are so few events that are specifically for lesbians and their friends. To get arts, music, workshops, sport and DJs, all for this audience, all in one place over one weekend with camping included, for only £95, makes this festival a one-off!

In your opinion, what makes a great festival?

Come to L Fest and you will find out!

I might very well do! Do you think that sorting out a few festivals over the summer is a good alternative to a holiday abroad?

I think it’s something that a lot of younger people do: ditch the holiday for a summer of festivals. As we attract an audience from 18 to 80 and beyond, I know our L Festers enjoy their summer holiday and creature comforts as well – best of both worlds.

Are you checking out any other festivals this year?

Unfortunately I don’t have time at the moment. Maybe after July I can arrange something.

What was the first festival you went to and how was that experience for you?

This is one that may surprise you… I have never been to a festival! I have learnt so much in the past 18 months of doing L Fest – I can now tell you what a backline is and name many lesbian-fronted bands and authors J  I knew what I wanted to create and did that from scratch. That’s why L Fest has so many personal touches and such a diverse programme and it’s what I would want from a festival.

What ‘makes’ a festival a truly unforgettable experience?

I was truly overwhelmed by the response we got from our first festival. We won best LGBT Festival, voted by G3 magazine readers, against other lesbian festivals from all over the world which had thousands of punters. The feedback from our audience showed me that these people will remember L Fest for a very long time, it had completely touched them. Some had come to a lesbian event for the first time, or  come on their own, joined our L Fest Solos and enjoyed the weekend with similar women. I got feedback saying we had literally changed women’s lives and they had grown in confidence since coming – that was just amazing!

Do you have any tips for festival goers this year?  If I had to give one, it’d be take your own toilet roll and hand gel!

Well, Ffion, you don’t need that at L Fest. We have over 100 static toilets with cleaners on duty all day and continuous toilet roll refills. We also have glamping rooms, with plenty of mirrors and plugs for straighteners.

If it rains, we have that covered, literally, with a 1,000-seater grandstand for the music, an indoor pavilion for all of the workshops and readings, an indoor cinema with screenings all weekend and a big top for the evening entertainment.

So my best tip would be buy your ticket now before everyone hears of our festival and it’s a complete sellout! L Fest West Midlands Showground, Berwick Road, Shropshire, SY1 2PF Fri 13th to Mon 16th July 2012

Interview by Ffion Davies