What do mean it’s a bit short notice for me to tell you about a festival happening this weekend? I’ve been banging on about it since winter and it’s all there on the event calendar, you know?! My first MantonFest experience was in 2021 when I labelled it “Marlborough’s Festival Gem.” Five years on I stand by that tag…..
MantonFest this year is on Saturday 27th June, there’s still a few tickets up for grabs. There’s something delightfully “Marlborough” about this festival. It’s a safe family-vibe without the need of mountains of restrictions. Set in the natural bowel of Treacle Brolly, it’s walkable from the town, and worthwhile. It takes campervans payable on entry and doesn’t fuss, provided you take back home the joy of the Mantonfest experience.
And that is, a grand stage, this year with a second stage dedicated to local acts, a horseshoe shaped maze of gazebos around a dancefloor where families pitch for the day, and picnic. There’s plenty of food and drink stalls, but the trend seems to be picnic, and the organisers welcome this.
The thing is, if I have sprung this on you too late, do not fear, especially if you’re in the Devizes area, because Park Farm Festival is on 18th July and it is run by the same experts as MantonFest. While newer, this little sister festival is set to grow, and, bringing the same family vibe to Devizes with that of Mantonfest, you can pick, or better, do both!
Mantonfest firstly, then, has AC/DC tribute AC/DC UK, who brought their very real show to Park Farm last year. In stark contrast Dan Budd is Robbie Williams, and The Duran Duran Experience finishes off the tribute headliners.
Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective should be no strangers to Devizine readers by now, neither Barrelhouse or Humdinger, who are all playing. Last Train Smokin’ are an old Mantonfest favourite, and the second stage has Skedaddle, Dorain, Mills and Hangfire.
Park Farm Festival switches acts too, with some Mantonfest’s favourites. The Queen tribute One Vision is the best Queen tribute I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a few!! Likewise with Slade tribute Sylde, they were great at a previous Mantonfest Christmas special.
They’ve also got Badness, which is one of my favourite tributes, not quite Madness not quite Bad Manners, but their own inspired outfit. And an Abba tribute I’m unaware of, but hey, it’s an Abba tribute, guaranteed to get old and young dancing together!
Mantonfest regulars Barrelhouse go side by side with Devizes own Jon Amor Trio, which should be interesting, and Last Train Smokin’ also play this one; I told you they were a favourite! With duo Too Complicated finishing off Park Farm’s main stage, also look out for the first time second stage here too, with Matchbox Mutiny, Station, Dorian and Bustards.
If Park Farm brings a taste of Mantonfest to Devizes, and that’s brilliant, it doesn’t mean you can’t check out the mothership this Saturday in Marlborough, and then you’ll really know, Park Farm is also worthy of your festival budget! Best of both worlds!
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