Standon Calling
Encyclopedia
Standon Calling is an annual music festival held just outside the small UK village of Standon, Hertfordshire in the grounds of private residence Standon Lordship. It is an unsponsored, themed boutique festival which grew from a birthday barbecue into an annual public event.
. In keeping with its origins, the ticket price included a barbecue
lunch.
In 2005, a second stage was secretly built in an adjacent field. Following the final act, organiser and birthday boy Alex Trenchard announced "Don't go to bed!". Performers dressed as fairies, who were hidden in the crowd, threw off their cloaks and led the festival-goers to a surprise all-night party.
The festival expanded to two days in 2006 with a full-size main stage, a Friesian cow-themed dancefloor in a former stables and a treehouse bar built into a circle of horse chestnut trees. The secret stage, revealed late on the Saturday night, was themed as Dante's Inferno
. Revellers were led down into a sunken garden as White Rose Movement took to the stage. The area featured damned torsos twisting out of trees and camouflaged performers startling unsuspecting passers-by.
These theatrical set-pieces involve the attendees and allow them to play a part in the proceedings instead of passively watching bands. This is a key factor that differentiates a boutique festival from a traditional music festival.
2007 saw a Rio Carnival theme and the blossoming of another festival tradition, fancy dress on Saturday. Headliners were The Rumble Strips
, New Young Pony Club
, Noisettes
and Mr Hudson & The Library
. Friendly Fires
also played the main stage on Saturday afternoon.
In 2008 the festival expanded to three full days, with the Super Furry Animals
closing the main stage. Other acts included Florence & The Machine The Maccabees
, Glasvegas
, Late Of The Pier
, and Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
.
The theme was Japanese culture, with outfits varying from Harajuku
girls to Wasabi peas. Japanese acts included Melt Banana, Acid Mother's Temple and Cosmic Inferno, while activities included calligraphy demonstrations, tea tastings and binocular football.
There was even an underwater disco, which that won Standon Calling the Innovation Award at 2008's UK Festival Awards.
In 2009 the theme was "Space", commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11
Moon landings. The festival site was duly decorated with props including a Tardis
from cult BBC sci-fi serial Doctor Who
and the DeLorean time machine from the Back to the Future
film trilogy. There were several space-related events, including two evening presentations by space expert Jerry Stone of Spaceflight UK.
2010 saw Standon Calling grow, both in terms of space and ticket sales. Themed around "Murder On The Standon Express", a miniature town with boutique stores, food stands and a fancy dress shop was built on the site.
The festival spread from Standon Lordship onto neighbouring fields with additional car parking and camping. Coach travel provided from local train stations. The pre-festival marketing included a series of "Road to Standon Calling" gigs in London and a competition for smaller upcoming bands to play the main stage on the Sunday night.
2011's theme is 'Gods and Monsters' with the line-up to be announced over the coming weeks.
He has apologised to all those affected and his parents have paid back the money. The festival team have vowed to carry on and will complete their work on the 2011 event.
In a public statement issued shortly after Trenchard's conviction, festival director Graham MacVoy said: "I know that Alex very much regrets his actions and feels great remorse for the distress he has caused, but the festival is about more than just one person. The team have been preparing for this year’s festival and Alex’s absence for a number of months.
"Standon Calling 2010 was a resounding success and we are building on that. Our Early Bird tickets for 2011 sold out in half the time they did last year. Excitement is building and we are about to unveil our theme and make our first line-up announcement.”
Among others
returned that November for an exclusive gig to promote the release of debut album Sigh No More. The concert was attended by friends and invited members of the media. Singer-songwriter Laura Marling
also attended, performing a cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene
.
History
Pronounced "Stand'n" (as in "London") rather than "Stand-on", the festival began as a birthday barbecue for founder Alex Trenchard in 2001. It became a live music event in 2004, with a single stage on the same site and a one day line-up including Sevenball and Do Me Bad ThingsDo Me Bad Things
Do Me Bad Things were a nine-piece blues/rock/soul/metal band from Croydon, London, who formed in 2003 and split up in January 2006.-History:...
. In keeping with its origins, the ticket price included a barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
lunch.
In 2005, a second stage was secretly built in an adjacent field. Following the final act, organiser and birthday boy Alex Trenchard announced "Don't go to bed!". Performers dressed as fairies, who were hidden in the crowd, threw off their cloaks and led the festival-goers to a surprise all-night party.
The festival expanded to two days in 2006 with a full-size main stage, a Friesian cow-themed dancefloor in a former stables and a treehouse bar built into a circle of horse chestnut trees. The secret stage, revealed late on the Saturday night, was themed as Dante's Inferno
Inferno (Dante)
Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. It is followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso. It is an allegory telling of the journey of Dante through what is largely the medieval concept of Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. In the poem, Hell is depicted as...
. Revellers were led down into a sunken garden as White Rose Movement took to the stage. The area featured damned torsos twisting out of trees and camouflaged performers startling unsuspecting passers-by.
These theatrical set-pieces involve the attendees and allow them to play a part in the proceedings instead of passively watching bands. This is a key factor that differentiates a boutique festival from a traditional music festival.
2007 saw a Rio Carnival theme and the blossoming of another festival tradition, fancy dress on Saturday. Headliners were The Rumble Strips
The Rumble Strips
The Rumble Strips are an English band from Tavistock, Devon. The band take their name from Rumble Strips, which are small, continuous lines of bumps along the edge of a road. Having known each other since childhood, a precise conception date for the band doesn't really exist. The current line-up...
, New Young Pony Club
New Young Pony Club
New Young Pony Club are an English electronic band from London, consisting of members from London, Hereford, Cambridge and Bromley. Their influences are prominently from post-punk and New Wave....
, Noisettes
Noisettes
Noisettes are an English indie rock band from London, comprising singer and bassist Shingai Shoniwa, guitarist Dan Smith, and drummer Jamie Morrison...
and Mr Hudson & The Library
Mr Hudson & The Library
Benjamin Hudson McIldowie , known professionally as Mr Hudson, is an English R&B/pop artist based in London, England. Mr Hudson is signed to produce Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music...
. Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires are an English band from St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently signed to XL Recordings. Their self-titled debut album was released on 1 September 2008 and was announced as one of the shortlisted twelve for the 2009 Mercury Prize on 21 July 2009.-History:Friendly Fires...
also played the main stage on Saturday afternoon.
In 2008 the festival expanded to three full days, with the Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
closing the main stage. Other acts included Florence & The Machine The Maccabees
The Maccabees
The Maccabees are a indie rock band from Brighton, England. They have released two albums so far, Colour It In in 2007, with a follow-up, Wall of Arms, released on 4 May 2009...
, Glasvegas
Glasvegas
Glasvegas are a Scottish indie rock band from Glasgow. The band consists of James Allan , Rab Allan , Paul Donoghue and Jonna Löfgren . The band received critical acclaim for their debut album Glasvegas which was released in September 2008, reaching No...
, Late Of The Pier
Late of the Pier
Late of the Pier are a four-piece dance-punk band from Castle Donington, England, currently signed to Phantasy. Their debut album Fantasy Black Channel was released on 11 August 2008 by Parlophone produced by Erol Alkan.- History :...
, and Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip are a hip-hop duo, combining electronic beats with sung, spoken, and rapped lyrics. The pair are Daniel Stephens , and David Peter Meads...
.
The theme was Japanese culture, with outfits varying from Harajuku
Harajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
girls to Wasabi peas. Japanese acts included Melt Banana, Acid Mother's Temple and Cosmic Inferno, while activities included calligraphy demonstrations, tea tastings and binocular football.
There was even an underwater disco, which that won Standon Calling the Innovation Award at 2008's UK Festival Awards.
In 2009 the theme was "Space", commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
Moon landings. The festival site was duly decorated with props including a Tardis
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
from cult BBC sci-fi serial Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and the DeLorean time machine from the Back to the Future
Back to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
film trilogy. There were several space-related events, including two evening presentations by space expert Jerry Stone of Spaceflight UK.
2010 saw Standon Calling grow, both in terms of space and ticket sales. Themed around "Murder On The Standon Express", a miniature town with boutique stores, food stands and a fancy dress shop was built on the site.
The festival spread from Standon Lordship onto neighbouring fields with additional car parking and camping. Coach travel provided from local train stations. The pre-festival marketing included a series of "Road to Standon Calling" gigs in London and a competition for smaller upcoming bands to play the main stage on the Sunday night.
2011's theme is 'Gods and Monsters' with the line-up to be announced over the coming weeks.
Alex Trenchard's conviction
On February 3, 2011, founder Alex Trenchard was jailed for three years for defrauding his employer Tesco of £355,000 to fund the event using his company credit card. This followed losses on ticket sales during the 2007 and 2009 events.He has apologised to all those affected and his parents have paid back the money. The festival team have vowed to carry on and will complete their work on the 2011 event.
In a public statement issued shortly after Trenchard's conviction, festival director Graham MacVoy said: "I know that Alex very much regrets his actions and feels great remorse for the distress he has caused, but the festival is about more than just one person. The team have been preparing for this year’s festival and Alex’s absence for a number of months.
"Standon Calling 2010 was a resounding success and we are building on that. Our Early Bird tickets for 2011 sold out in half the time they did last year. Excitement is building and we are about to unveil our theme and make our first line-up announcement.”
2009 Line up (sample)
- Friendly FiresFriendly FiresFriendly Fires are an English band from St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently signed to XL Recordings. Their self-titled debut album was released on 1 September 2008 and was announced as one of the shortlisted twelve for the 2009 Mercury Prize on 21 July 2009.-History:Friendly Fires...
- Femi Kuti and the Positive ForceFemi KutiOlufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician and the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti....
- LadytronLadytronLadytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
- Mumford & SonsMumford & SonsMumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
- Tony ChristieTony ChristieTony Christie is an English musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his track, "Is This The Way To Amarillo", a double UK chart success.-Career:Tony Christie has sold over 10 million albums Worldwide...
- Sun Ra Arkestra
- The WhipThe Whip (band)The Whip are a band whose founding members Bruce Carter and Danny Saville come from Oldham, Greater Manchester, England formed in 2006. The rhythm section is Nathan Sudders and Fiona "Li'l Fee" Daniel , who was previously in Colne based band Earl....
- Ed HarcourtEd HarcourtEd Harcourt is an English singer-songwriter. To date, he has released five studio albums, two EPs, and thirteen singles. His debut album, Here Be Monsters, was nominated for the 2001 Mercury Prize...
- Easy Star All-StarsEasy Star All-StarsOriginally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings, Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective with a rotating roster of musicians and singers founded by the co-founders of New York City-based Easy Star Records in 1997...
- Chrome HoofChrome HoofChrome Hoof are an experimental orchestra based in London, England. The group was formed in 2000 by Cathedral bassist Leo Smee and his brother Milo Smee. Initially performing as a duo, their music was mostly electronic. Since the start, however, the group have continuously recruited new members...
- Paloma FaithPaloma FaithPaloma Faith is a British singer-songwriter and actress. In 2009, she released her debut single "Stone Cold Sober", then her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, which was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. Her debut album stayed within the top 40 album...
- Micachu and The ShapesMicachuMica Levi, known by her stage name Micachu , is an English singer, songwriter, composer, and producer. She is classically trained and is best known for experimental music in a variety of genres.-Biography:...
- Eddy Temple-MorrisEddy Temple-MorrisThe Honourable Edward Temple-Morris is a British DJ, record producer and TV presenter.-Biography:Eddy Temple-Morris hosts XFM's specialist show The Remix. Before joining XFM, he was the main presenter on the MTV show Up for It Live, presented shows for Atlantic 252 & BBC Hereford & Worcester,...
Among others
2010 Line up (sample)
- Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club
- Etienne De Crecy
- The Magic Numbers
- Liars
- Metronomy
- Efterklang
- Fool's Gold
- Casiokids
- British Sea Power
- Mano de Dios
- Gilles Peterson
- These New Persians
- Fucked Up
- Jeffrey Lewis
- Lulu and the Lampshades
- Filthy Dukes
Mumford & Sons Album Release
After playing at the festival in 2009, Mumford & SonsMumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
returned that November for an exclusive gig to promote the release of debut album Sigh No More. The concert was attended by friends and invited members of the media. Singer-songwriter Laura Marling
Laura Marling
Laura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
also attended, performing a cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene
Jolene
Jolene may refer to:In music:* Jolene , by Dolly Parton** "Jolene" , a song from the album* "Jolene", a song on the 2004 album Trouble by Ray LaMontagne* "Jolene", a song on the 2008 album The Foundation by Zac Brown Band...
.