There’s a lot to be said for small things. Where would we be without atoms, for instance? How could I get through a day’s teaching without a shot or two of espresso in the morning? Damn it, even my Lilliputian wife is awesome. However, when it comes to festivals, most seem intent on pursuing a path of ever expansion. Not content until they have transformed themselves into gigantic monolithic behemoths, they surge forward with ever greater commercialisation, often to the detriment of us, the fans. There is, however, another way.
In leafy, unassuming Hawarden, north Wales, The Good Life Experience proudly rejects this modern notion of a large scale commercial enterprise festival. Here, celebrated rock stars don’t fly in 30 minutes before their set and depart even quicker after it. Here, the artists, performers, speakers and poets stick around, mingling with the crowd, enjoying the unique collection of music and cultural offerings. To highlight this, the festival has no backstage area or VIP tent so you can be sure that all of the performers are there because they want to be.
Ok, so it may not have the mass audience appeal that some of its bigger brothers and sisters have. There’s no Arcade Fire to headline and there’s no secret sets (or rumours of them) from the hottest indie band in town or a pair of French DJs in helmets. But, because of this, there are no queues (except for the helter skelter, of course!), the atmosphere is one of village friendliness and you get to listen to some great performers up close and personal. The Good life Experience is like your favourite acoustic performance, for just you and your friends, in the privacy and intimacy of your living room.
The performances themselves were a sophisticated cocktail of cultural ingredients. This year saw celebrated, pioneer DJ, Gilles Peterson, play two special sets, while Jonathon Donahue (one half of the brilliant Mercury Rev) was also in attendance to showcase his immense musical talents. But alongside these world renowned musical talents, lesser known and local performers from a wide array of musical genres were given their chance to shine, including the fantastic Flint male voice choir, who were joined on stage by co-organiser Cerys Matthews of Catatonia and BBC 6 Music fame.
Literary luminaries like Dr John Cooper Clarke and Mike Garry were on the bill to provide the passion, humour and wit of the spoken word. Dr John Cooper Clarke was true to his punk poet roots delivering a brilliantly irreverent set of thought provoking, sharp-tongued verse, but it was Mike Garry that stole Friday evening for us. The Manchester poet, who writes about the plights and lives of the working class, had Nat, my wife, in tears as he read and performed his brilliant pieces detailing teachers, social workers, drug addicts and children battling to grow up in inner cities. Seriously, if you’ve never heard of him, check out his ‘Ode to Anthony H Wilson’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cYNI8s_vo4), written and dedicated to the memory of Tony Wilson, a true pioneer of the Manchester music scene who died in 2007.
Elsewhere on site, figures such as Jeremy Vine and Ben Fogle were among the speakers delighting audiences with their anecdotes and humour. However, unlike a lot of major festivals, it was the attractions beyond the main stages that really caught our eye. In fact, all told, we probably spent most of our time away from the main stage taking in the many and varied organised activities that were on offer. The vast majority of these sessions and classes are open to adults and children alike with children of all ages being actively encouraged to sign up for them. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority are free of charge.
A few sessions did incur a cost but they all involved making or crafting something significant (like a paddle…no really!) that you then took away with you, so the price reflected the end product. The odd session was also adult only. Axe work, for instance, was only open to those over 18 and those who were not inebriated! Completely understandable, I’m sure you’ll agree. As great as it looked, we couldn’t resist sampling the gin cocktails that were on offer close by so unfortunately we had to pass on this activity.
Of the many free sessions on offer at The Good Life Experience, we particularly liked the ukulele lessons, the tree climbing and the swing dance lesson. To watch parents alongside their kids, all sat on haystacks, learning the basics of a ukulele, while strumming and singing along was amazing. The tree climbing was equally impressive. Using a combination of ropes and harnesses, children were taught the art of climbing one of the biggest trees on the estate. And, well, what can we say about the swing dance lessons? We went there to watch (honestly!) but, thanks to our smooth hipped toddler, found ourselves in the middle of the action. He had a great time and so did we.
Elsewhere on site, there were sessions and demos on campfire cooking and lessons on how to light a fire with flint and steel. At one point I remember discussing with Nat just how engaged the kids were doing these activities. It really was a great spectacle. Another wonderful spectacle, that further enhanced the festival’s child friendly status, was that the organisers had also managed to add kids to the line-up. The two young Meek sisters gave a brilliant talk on their quest to reduce the number of disposable plastic bottles in the UK. They showed confidence and maturity beyond their years and presented us with facts, statistics and disturbing images of the impact that bottles have on wildlife. If you haven’t already, check out their campaign and website: http://www.dotrythisathome.com/category/clear-plastic/
Food and drink at The Good Life Experience was also suitably boutique. The gin bar, the Black Cow vodka bar and the TinCup whiskey shack all offered premium products that we were simply too weak to resist. Each one offered a real bar-like feel with seating areas and deckchairs to soak up the festival atmosphere. In terms of food, as well as offering the usual burger and fries combinations, here you could tuck into some crab at the crab shack, gorge yourself on tasty Indian cuisine or sample the award winning delights from the onsite farm shop.
Overall, the festival was a huge triumph. The range of musical performances, poetry, speakers, and outdoor lifestyle and culture sessions make The Good Life Experience truly unique. The fact that it is set on a beautiful estate, and children are not only encouraged to come, but are also expected to participate in activities that they wouldn’t do ordinarily at home, school or at other family friendly festivals, makes this our current favourite small festival. We can’t wait to join them again next year!

This looks like my kinda festival! Family friendly, not being crushed to watch a megastar hold the mic up to the audience for the entire set and lots of gin!! Sounds fab! Thanks for linking up to #FabFridayPost
Yeah it’s a great, laid back festival. Thanks for reading.
Looks like a great little festival and like you and your family had a great time. Fab photos. #blinkylinky
We sure did and thanks for reading.
I’ve heard lots of good things about this festival. Maybe I’ll be able to persuade the family next year. Even if it is just for the spoon whittling. (For me, not them) #CountryKids
Ah I hope you succeed. It’s genuinely a lovely, small, laid back festival that’s quite unique in what it offers. Thanks for reading.
This looks like a fun-fab festival, perfect for parents with little ones. We’ve been meaning to take our daughter to something like this, a family-friendly festival, but somehow never manage to plan it! #countrkids
Yeah it’s a great one for first timers – really relaxed. Thanks for reading.
This sounds absolutely amazing, totally our kind of thing. We went to an even smaller festival this summer, so this would be a step up for us, but I’m sure my kids would love it! #FabFridayPost
Thanks for reading, we do love a good festival.
Looks a fab festival really informative as usual great photos Thanks for linking to the #binkylinky come back next week please
Thanks mate and yes I’ll be there next week 😁👍🏼
It sounds like you had a wonderful time. It’s lovely to hear about festivals where you don’t have to pay much more for the activities once you’re in. The music and speakers also sound right up our street. Great weather too by the looks of it! #countrykids
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Yeah they certainly ordered the weather in. Thanks for reading.
It looks like an amazing festival and so family-friendly too. Sometimes the best things come in small packages 😉 It looks like you had fabulous weather.
#countrykids
I agree with you that festivals is always trying to beat the other music fest always wanting that biggest title! Buty the best ones are where you can be intimate with the artist and the kids can really roam freely. Like this one. Music fest is what we missed this summer though there are lots. Thanks for sharing this experience of yours and your cart is just the awesomest! #countrykids
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Ah thanks so much.
This does really look like the sort of festival I’d love to go to with my lot, so many music festivals are just bodies pushing to get to the stage and see their idol’s for 2 seconds before being swept up again. It’s great that there was so many activities to take part in, I must say the idea of a paddle making at a festival does sound thoroughly intriguing. Your two look like they had a wonderful time exploring all there is to see at this little festival, I can see why all four of you are excited to go back again next year!
Thanks for linking up and sharing with me on #CountryKids
this looks fab. My Brother really likes John Cooper Clarke – so great that the artists there just mingle around; I think you get a more authentic artist at things like this and I guess you get a very different festival experience too
#toddlerapprovedtuesday
Yes it definitely has a unique feel to it – lovely atmosphere. Thanks for reading.
I am so glad that you all had a great time. Festival can be overwhelming with ads and commercial purposes only. I’m glad to see this type of festival still alive. I would love to be able to learn how to play the ukulele, and I am sure Ethan would love to learn how to light a fire with flint and steel too. It would make his dream come true!! lol! Thank you so much for sharing with us your story on #FabFridayPost I look forward to hear more of your festival outings soon! 🙂
Thank you. It certainly is nice that these type of festivals still continue to exist. Thanks for hosting.
Wow, this looks awesome! So far, we’ve only managed a kids festival with our little so this might offer something for us oldies too! #whatevertheweather
Yeah we do a few festivals each summer and a small one like this might be a nice first option for you. Thanks for reading.
I was reading just Ali from Kids Chaos’ post about The Good Life Experience festival.You both have really sold it to me as the bush craft sessions and more intimate performance make a memorable experience when you have kids.
Yeah, everyone we’ve spoken to who went had an absolute blast! Thanks for reading.
The festival sounds amazing! I love that kind of one, the whole village feel sounds perfect and a great place to be! Axe work sounds fun, I would love to make a paddle too, but not sure what I would use it for? Build a raft?! Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂
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I have never taken my kids to a festival you make it sound so worth while, and the pics look fabulous #whatevertheweather
It all sounds fantastic! I’ve never really been into festivals but I can definitely see the appeal of this one! Will be checking it out next year.
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Yeah this one is pretty unique with its focus on outdoor culture and traditions. Think you’d really like it.
Now this looks like my kind of festival. I used to love going to the big ones pre-kids but now I just couldn’t face it. We went to Victorious this year in Portsmouth which had an amazing family section and we just stayed in there and avoid the main part. The kids loved it but at least a festival like The Good Life Experience I’d get something out of it as well. Thanks for linking to #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
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Yeah we’re all for kiddie festivals but we much prefer Ines where we all get something out of it together. Thanks for hosting.
This looks great, even for oldies like me! AND, always important, I could take the dog 🙂
Yes, I agree, always great to be able to take the dog. Thanks for reading.
I love the family festival vibe and would love to introduce my girls to something like this #OutdoorBloggers
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This would be a perfect first festival. Lovely and small but still loads going on.