Saturday 7th August 2010 and I’m on my way down Little London Fields Festival, the weather as erratic as can be expected from a British summer despite scorching previous weekends. I’m still overly enthusiastic in very short denim shorts and a hat that suggests I’m going to Brighton beach not an east London park. It’s heaving with the cool and beautiful before me and my friends even enter the park, its Portobello Market meets Hoxton Square. Restaurants and vintage boutiques buzzing with Saturday brunchers and shoppers.
No more than four feet into the park and there’s a band rocking out on a small stage to hoards of people enjoying cider based picnics with friends whilst swaying to guitar riffs, next we are greeted by the tongue in cheek celebrity graveyard the famous six feet under included Kurt Cobain, Lisa left Eye Lopez, Elvis Presley and Tupac and further down a dance tent is in full swing. Attendees proved undeterred by the rain or the areas gang related reputation as reported numbers rose to 25,000.
Police reported no violence. Festival organizer Alex Daw said: “It went really well. We wanted it to be quite underground with people from the community. For an area seen as quite prevalent for gang activity, it just shows what a bit of enthusiasm can do.” Anticipation grows for next year as the first Little London Fields proved a hit with Locals and music lovers.
wilton53
1 year, 5 months ago
25,000? Somebody must have been smoking the funny. I’d say it was more like 2-3,000 people tops – only slightly more than would have been in the park on a pleasant weekend.
Having said that, I’m glad you enjoyed your little bit of cultural tourism – it’s just like Grazia said isn’t it!
Congratulations to the organisers who pulled off a pleasantly homespun event.