The inaugural Mill Fest — where do I begin? Held in Bramley, the first ever all-dayer of its kind was a romping success, and I had the pleasure of reviewing it*.

The sold-out event opened its fenced doors at 12pm sharp and saw a mix of local craft stalls, bakeries and food vendors, come together in a courtyard with live music from various bands. Including the super-grungy Seattle Thrift Store, heavy rockers Wolforna and impeccable tribute act Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival, the sets were outstanding — and all played from within a parked lorry completely kitted out as a stage.

There was a distinct buzz of excited revellers who’d gathered to enjoy the day. As pumps of Vocation’s pints were poured outside and Against The Grain — the resident bar — teased drinkers with cocktails, wine and more craft beers, tattoo artists were offering flashes up at Grays. The salon had welcomed a collective of talent ready to ink wanting punters. What an incredible idea — it drew people in for quirky pieces big and small, as well as piercings. 

There was such a fun vibe — and more and more people kept coming until there was a real influx to support all these independents. If only it had been a Saturday not a Sunday, to keep the party going even later! 

But of all the highlights (and bear in mind, by this point, I’d scoffed a Kinder bueno brownie and bought some very cool hand-drawn artwork of a skull intertwined with a snake), Wolforna’s hugely apt and brilliantly received ‘War Pigs’ cover rose to the fore. Their take on the Black Sabbath hit was absolutely explosive; every instrument and roared vocal encouraged ongoing crowd participation. And, much like the rest of their set, it was superbly shreddy. Ozzy would’ve been proud.

So while I’ve kept this a relatively short-and-sweet rundown of the day, the main message to leave you with is this: if Mill Fest is on again next year, book a ticket, whatever you do! You’re in for an incredible festival to remember. 

*With thanks to the team behind Mill Fest for the press access.