48: How (not) to run a DIY festival, with Field Maneuvers

We talk about festivals a lot on No Tags, and usually the
negative stuff: monopolisation, bad owners, overpriced cheesy
chips. But good can still prevail, and are hopes are
pinned on Field Maneuvers: an LED beacon of hope in the darkness,
and an event that puts the comfort and enjoyment of ravers first.
Perish the thought!


In this episode, FM organisers Henry, Ele and Leon explain how
they’ve just about stayed afloat for 12 years – or is it 13?
They can’t quite remember. We talk about building a rave utopia
from scratch, the influence of free party culture on FM, adapting
to festival life as new parents, and the momentum behind the
current boycott of KKR-owned festivals. There’s also a story
about duck poo.


Before that, Chal and Tom talk about the lack of muckracking
journalists in the music industry, following on from the latest
First Floor newsletter, and get into a stack of listener emails
on side-of-stage access, babushka hoods, Afrohouse and
Keinemusik. We’ve had some golden feedback emails lately – please
keep them coming!


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