Northern Green Gathering festival

The NGG is smaller than the Green Gathering but no less vital and buzzing, and with a quite distinct energy. The event ran like clockwork in its new location at Normanton, near Wakefield. For music, there was the excellent cycle-powered disco with its many competent DJs, plus a silent disco with a very danceable hip-hop channel keeping to noise-abatement rules into the wee small hours. The main stage featured two stunning bands headlining on Friday, then Saturday. The ska and Madness-insipred wall of energy Rookie Numbers had a happy crowd bouncing along to their tireless, ultra-animated show on Friday. On Saturday, tight-as-a-drum Kontiki dazzled with twinned guitar and bass, precision-timed against flawless drumming. The bar had better beer and cider at a cheaper price than the GG and all the food stalls produced tasty, healthy fair, especially my favourite Dal-Licious. The event felt connected to its venue with the young farmer beating its bounds with a few of us on Sunday, filling us in on the History of the place (a skirmish near the Battle of Wakefield on site, amongst other tidbits) and he was a welcome presence throughout. Being a recycling-mad Green Gathering, the place was kept impeccably tidy by everyone, and the atmosphere all weekend was happy, relaxed and friendly. We've been told Wakefield Council has given the results a big thumbs-up, so hopefully the NGG has found a permanent site - it would be great to see it grow there.