The crowning glory of a soggy summer, this year’s Mucky Weekender wonderland was a Mad Hatter’s brimful of treats, and we can’t wait for next year!
You know good times are afoot when the ground is pulsating with bass as you arrive. And, after squelching on to a very soggy Vicarage Farm and ditching my car to dive into the fun, that’s exactly the omen Mucky Weekender 2024 delivered…
Image: Ant Penny Photography
Image: Ant Penny Photography
“WOMP! WOMP! WOMP!” said the mud. And no wonder, with a line-up like this year’s Mucky. Even the wompy swamp was ready to go, after biblical storms all week threatened everyone’s hopes.
For those who aren’t familiar with this small but perfectly formed ravers’ paradise near Micheldever, it’s the brainchild of the Dub Pistols’ Barry Ashworth. Thanks to the friends, fans & fellow musicians he’s gathered over a decades-long musical career rolling into dub, reggae, ska, drum & bass and jungle and much more besides, this end-of-summer shindig has become the highlight of many a summer. As well as spirits, the festival raises funds for mental health charities, something Barry is very passionate about. And, by that logic… the bonkers Alice in Wonderland theme was the perfect way to let loose and go mad.
Another humdinger of a line-up beckoned us all to tumble down the rabbithole into 2024’s Mucky last month, among them Congo Natty (AKA Michael Alec Anthony West/ Rebel MC) who arrived on Friday night to greet the parting of the clouds in godlike style. Other legends who delighted the crowds, from front to back, day & night, include LTJ Bukem, Micky Finn, London Elektricity, Woody Cook, The Prodigy star Leeroy Thornhill, Beans on Toast, Bez & Rowetta, Utah Saints, Krafty Kuts, Freestylers, Aries, Don Letts and Nicky Blackmarket.
All the big tents throbbed with amazing vibes and music (top marks to the sound system which never gave up) but my favourite stomping ground, once again, was the spaceship on higher ground, overlooking the whole wonderland, where Plump DJs & many more kept everyone moving. But, (cliche trigger warning) what makes this festival so great is that it’s really not just about the music but the people. This year’s Alice theme inspired a party of incredible outfits, from a stiff skirt that offered a whole tea party to Tweedledee & Tweedledums galore (special mention, also, to the bizarre pram of trippy treats, The Unlucky Dip). No wonder everyone was grinning like Cheshire Cats, and that the first tier of tickets has already sold out to next year’s Mucky, 11th to 13th September. See you there!
All the stars aligned to make Mucky Weekender the best small festival on Planet Earth this summer…
A short time ago (last weekend) in a galaxy not very far away… the stars of jungle, dub and more came out to shine.
Four thousand rockers and ravers took off from Vicarage Farm near Winchester on a two-day mission to explore Mucky Weekender created by intrepid Dub Pistols frontman Barry Ashworth.
And this summer’s highlight did not disappoint with four star-spangled stages for 2023. As promised, The USS Seanie T spaceship boldy went where no MC had gone before, and the Crazy Diamonds Club Stage dazzled bright. Leeroy Thornhill (ex Prodigy) and DJ Format were two of the many highlights blowing minds at The Shack while The Ashworth Mad House provided the perfect base for astronomical sets from Goldie MBE, Charlie Tee, Stereo MCs, general Levy, Krafty Kuts, Bez’s Acid House and many many more.
This was my first trip to Mucky Weekender, and the fourth event spreading the love thanks to hedonist and helper Barry, who is patron of Tonic Music for Mental Health who offer free support and recovery programmes for the vulnerable people within the music and arts community.
The intimate capacity crowd of all ages, roaming a stunning 28 acres of private parkland, make for a community feel, with great vibes and everyone taking care of each other – especially important on this scorcher of an end-of-summer weekend.
Top marks must also go to the weird and wonderful creatives who added their own sprinkles of spacedust, such as Jethro & Tom with their sonic instrument experience in The Stump. Also, everyone who got involved with this year’s intergalactic theme outdid themselves, with outfits and props of stellar proportions.
If any of this means anything to you, and you miss the old days and spirit of drum and bass, Mucky is for you. Coming back to reality might be a bumpy landing, and your legs might not work the same way for a couple of days afterwards, but this is a price worth paying to leave the home planet for a few days.
Next year’s shindig will have a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party there, so make yourself a brew, happy recovery and hope to see you next September!
We chat music, heroes and mental health with music industry veteran Barry Ashworth ahead of Mucky Weekender festival in Winchester, 8th & 9th September, plus Dub Pistols’ upcoming UK tour…
Q. Hello Barry! Like us, you love a festival! What’s your best festival memory, and why?
“Playing nearly three festivals a week for over 25 years… that’s a hard one to answer. Rise festival in Victoria Park was pretty special because we had Terry Hall and Lynval Golding from The Specials playing with us and it was the first time they had played together in over 20 years; we played Gangsters and over 100,000 people lost their minds. They went on to say that day was the catalyst for them reforming the band. Last year’s Glastonbury Glade show was pretty special too, it was the biggest crowd we had played to at Glastonbury and the roar from the crowd when we came out was spectacular.”
Q. What’s your first memory of music?
“My mother loved her Motown music, I remember she had a white record player and would play and sing along to all her favourite Motown tunes all day long; she loved singing.”
Q. Who was your hero growing up? And now?
“I had a few to be honest, I’m a mad Liverpool fan so Kenny Dalglish was my idol. Musically I had a few: Terry Hall from The Specials, Joe Strummer from The Clash and Paul Weller the Modfather, all have had a massive influence on me musically.”
Q. Really tough one but what’s your favourite tune? (Or top three!)
“Almost impossible to answer this one as it changes daily but going with the above answer; The Specials – Ghost Town, The Clash – Straight To Hell and The Style Council – Shout to the Top.“
Q. Who are you most looking forward to seeing, hearing and hanging out with at Mucky Weekender this year?
“Everyone on the line up – that’s why I’ve booked them all!”
Q. How do you take good care of your mental health?
“I’m very fortunate to live in a small village called Reed in Hertfordshire. Walking is so good for your mental health. Being in the fresh air in the middle of the countryside makes me very happy.”
Q. Have you enjoyed any other great festivals this summer?
“Festival season is always my favourite time of the year. Every festival is unique and brings its own vibe but there are three that I feel are very close to my heart and have a special connection to. Beat-herder, in my opinion, is the best independent festival in the country. We have such a strong connection with the crowd there and the love that we get from them is something I will never take for granted. The amount of work and attention to detail that goes into Beat-herder is unique. The venues they build are off the scale and if I were handing out awards for best festivals in the UK this would be a winner. In Europe nothing comes close to Electric Castle in Romania. The production is next level and again the relationship we have built up from being part of the festival from the beginning is one of mutual love and respect. The noise, the energy and the vibe that comes when we walk-out leaves me quite emotional. So, I have covered the UK and Europe, but it is always festival season somewhere in the world and my next mention is halfway around the world in New Zealand. Splore Festival is another one of my spiritual homes. A better location for a festival is hard to find. Set on a beach in Tapapakanga National regional park, its ethos, its connection to the people and the traditions of the Māori land it is on, make it truly unique and one of a kind. I feel blessed to have been part of it over the years and again for the bond we have built with its crowd. For me, these festivals stand out against the others due to the care and pride the production team have for what they have created and for the experience they are providing.”
Q. What is the best feedback you’ve ever had from Mucky Weekender?
“We have people coming to the festival on their own and leave with a tribe of new friends. This always blows me away. For customers to feel safe to arrive alone because they know the vibe and crowd are so friendly. We have a lady who’s traveling solo all the way from Australia. Her first year coming to Mucky was 2022 and she’s made friends that will last a lifetime that she’s meeting up with again this year. I think this is such a huge compliment for the environment we’ve created. It’s incredible how many people are traveling from different parts of the globe to join us.”
Q. What else is on the horizon for you over the next few months?
“Rest, if only I could relax! The Dub Pistols have recently released a new album called Frontline on my own label Cyclone Records. It went to number 3 in the UK charts. There is a stack of remixes due for release from the likes of Don Letts, Guadi, The Allergies, Klue and a host of others. We have a winter UK tour lined up and I am already working on my next album with The Freestylers. Oh, and a documentary called what could possibly go wrong. The history of The Dub Pistols. It’s a rock n roll story of every band and a cautionary tale of what not to do to make it in the music industry!”
Q. Finally, if you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?
“It is cheesy but I am a socialist. I would like to see peace, love and unity throughout the world. A world where everyone is given a fair chance and a decent existence. A world in which we care less for ourselves and more for others.”
Mucky Weekender, named after one of the Dub Pistols’ bestselling singles Mucky Weekend, covers all genres across four stages at Vicarage Farm with an intergalactic theme this year. See you at the front! For info about Dub Pistols’ long awaited album Frontline visit dubpistolsmusic.co.uk/category/new-releases/. A Dub Pistols documentary will be out soon.
Maracas player, party animal & dad Mark Berry, AKA Bez, 59, shares his thoughts on music & life
Q. Who was your hero growing up? And now?
“George Best, and when I got a pair of his boots I was so excited I thought I was playing for Manchester United myself! And now it has to be my lovely wife Firouzeh.”
Q. What’s your first memory of music?
“Listening on my uncle’s headphones to The Beatles and wondered how adults enjoyed the music as at the time I thought it was for children.”
Q. What’s your best festival memory, and why?
“The year The Happy Mondays headlined Glastonbury – we took our own laminating machine and printed so many passes for all of our friends backstage, it looked almost as busy as it was out the front of the stage.”
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