Festivals For All were lucky enough to interview James Houston, Festival Director of The Galtres Festival. This year’s Galtres takes place in Crayke in Yorkshire over the weekend of 26th-28th August 2011. We’ve heard some great things about Galtres over recent years, so we were keen to get the Festival Director’s insight……

FFA asked James a little about his background and the history behind Galtres, now in its seventh year.  James explained that he has a media background in journalism and web publishing, and also development and marketing of educational games. From his early days he’d always loved the festival scene. A few years back, his local village, Crayke in Yorkshire, was looking for suggestions to improve the local community. His father ran a successful beer festival in Oxfordshire and so he suggested a Crayke beer festival. That first year they put on a limited number of bands to complement the beer. Over the years the festival has become a truly multifaceted event as James told us “we try to create an equal balance between the four elements of our festival: music & dance, beer & cider, family fun, and food. Each year we work hard on developing one of these in particular, so that all become better and better and an equal part of the overall experience.”

Galtres is a truly independent festival as they value the freedom to develop the festival in their own way and maintain the strong ethos of artistic freedom and quality for which Galtres is famous. Certainly their charitable ethos is important to them as they are not-for-profit, with all surplus going to a charitable trust each year for allocation.

FFA asked James about the festival scene in general, and Galtres in particular, during the current economic climate. James commented that whilst festivals are obviously popular and the public really like them, he thinks some will drop by the wayside. He said a lot of festivals are cutting budgets with the inevitable fall off in quality but at Galtres they’ve actually gone the other way. They are actively pursuing a policy of booking better artists year on year, and continually enhancing the quality of everything they provide. This approach has proved very successful for them, he added. Galtres strive to add value to every aspect of what they deliver, from the bands, to the beer & catering, through to the non-music entertainment elements and the general organization of everything they do. James see this as big differentiator for Galtres compared to festivals which are often little more than concerts with catering.

Apart from the bands, and the high quality of what they offer, perhaps the main element Galtres focus on is bringing together a community for a few days in a celebration of life. James explained that the festival takes on a life of its own; there are some very creative and collaborative people involved with the festival, and also in their audience, which returns year on year. They are extremely keen to engage with the arts communities in the area. For instance the festival works very closely with the Arts Barge project in Yorkshire. They are connected to a whole community of artists across all disciplines that help bring a unique creative energy to the festival. This local community involvement extends through to all aspects of the event. James stated that the festival does not need to go beyond Yorkshire for 100 quality beers, or to provide first class catering. The festival is proud to encourage and provide a platform for local bands. This exceptional degree of quality on their doorstep results in local sourcing whilst still maintaining their quality ethos, coupled with all the benefits of reduced food miles and carbon footprint reduction. Indeed they encourage festival goers to donate to a plant a tree scheme to offset travel as they strive to become carbon neutral said James.

What of the line-up, which includes artists of the calibre of the Levellers, British Sea Power, and The Charlatans. Has James any particular favourites?  James commented that they are offering a first class line-up of talent throughout the bill. He was obviously excited about all the acts. They have internationally famous performers on show, but they also support local artists and are proud to provide a festival platform for them to play. Galtres had 1,600 applications to play at Galtres this year and whittled them down to around 100. They personally vet them all. There is real quality throughout the line-up. James referenced Chris Helme (ex. Seahorses) for instance; Helme appeared on the second stage last year and was widely regarded as producing one of the best sets of the festival. James commented that it’s great to welcome him back and reward that success – this time on the main stage. James always searched out John Otway at festivals, as he’s a fantastic entertainer. Likewise with The Men They Couldn’t Hang, they are another of James’s personal favourite of over many years. He was thrilled to get artists of such stature that he grew up with on the bill at Galtres.

FFA asked James if there were any emerging artists he'd specifically tip for greater success. James said that there are so many on the bill but Hope & Social are real showmen, funny and excellent musicians. He also referenced Fiona Clayton, who’s had some great success already this year, for instance appearing on Radio1 Big Weekend. She is a true emerging talent that he thinks we’ll hear a lot more of. James also spoke highly of Aelfen, a great folk rock band who have the honour of actually closing the festival on the second stage after Sunday night main stage headliners the Levellers. There is a story behind Aelfen, James added. His wife heard these youngsters busking in York, thought they were brilliant and booked them for his birthday party! That was four years ago and they’ve had them at Galtres ever since. They really are excellent added James.

Festivals For All will be following the run up to the festival over the coming weeks and will be reporting from Galtres itself over the weekend of 26th-28th August. ….We can’t wait!

Full details of The Galtres Festival are available here:

http://www.festivalsforall.com/festival/the-galtres-festival-2011