August 18, 2022 |
It’s been a rough couple of years for Houghton Festival. Hotly tipped as one of the UK’s top up-and-coming parties, the lauded three-day musical experience began facing what can only be described as a nightmare scenario in 2019.
Forced to cancel its third edition on the day the festival was due to begin because of sudden extreme winds, the Craig Richards-curated party has had to postpone its return to Houghton Hall, Norfolk, for a further two years in the face of the global pandemic.
Three years on and 2022 was all set to be Houghton’s big comeback, and to say the stakes were high was a severe understatement. But despite the heatwave, vast dust clouds and a severe lack of phone signal, the team delivered what could possibly be this summer’s finest party. Here’s the key takeaways from the weekend.
The setting
Houghton Hall proves one pretty backdrop for a sun-kissed weekend away. If it’s not the vast forest that impresses you the most, it’ll be the huge lake that proves to be a top wind-down spot for you and your mates after hours. At night, the beauty of the festival really comes alive as artsy projections come beamed across the site, with lasers and candy-hued lights drenching the sky and the trees above you.
The staging
Where Houghton truly thrives is its approach to stage design, with Richards and his team making sure the DJ booths feel at one with the surrounding nature. Highlights included the 360 degree Pavilion stage , the laser-heavy Tantrum which is compiled out of old shipping contenders and the Quarry, a favourite amongst returning Houghton goers.
The wellness
A non-stop bender amidst a heatwave could prove a challenge for even the most hardcore of ravers. That’s why Houghton’s wellness hub, The Orchard, proves a vital element to the party. Across the weekend, the festival hosted a series of meditation sessions, gong baths and even life drawing classes. The calming area was dotted with hammocks, bean bags and blankets for catching up on Z’s under the shade of the forest during the day, whilst the ambient Pinters stage a stone’s throw away provided a soothing soundtrack throughout.
The art
Choo-choo! Across the weekend, on an almost hourly basis, a train would come down through the main festival arena and take guests to Houghton Hall’s sculpture garden, where they were treated to a guided tour of each artwork.
The best sets of the weekend
When it came to the best sets of the weekend, Joy Orbison closing out the Derren Smart stage Sunday evening was a clear front runner, blending UK garage, grime, drill and bassline, as well as global house influences, for a hedonistic sunset moment. Friday night’s full-throttle edits of Destiny’s Child and Dido classics, courtesy of Jensen Interceptor, also proved a clear crowd-pleaser, alongside a feel-good set from Shanti Celeste and an industrial outing from Object Blue.
Photography courtesy of Houghton.
