It was once billed as "Manchester's best kept secret" - but this bank holiday weekend thousands of revellers will be heading over to a hidden Stockport farm in a stunning countryside setting for a music extravaganza. The Moovin Festival makes its August bank holiday return with a packed bill of entertainment including Orbital, Louie Vega and Black Grape.
Upon arrival at the festival at Whitebottom Farm in Compstall in Stockport, guests get to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Etherow Country Park. On the site itself there's a picturesque waterfall, lake and acres of rolling fields.
As for the festival itself? The main stage remains in the vast former cow shed where it all began as a secret "Barn Party" with just a few hundred people in 2014.
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It was such a success that the following year Moovin Festival was officially born - founded by former Hacienda DJ Herbie Saccani. He would go on to be joined by Hacienda brand manager Paul "Fletch" Fletcher and partner Rebecca Rosenberg who are now busily putting the final preparations to the site for 2022.
Fletch recalls when Herbie first told him about the event. He says: "It was at a time where I had just left running the nightclub Sankeys and had a rare weekend off. Herbie got in touch telling me about this really cool Farm that he's doing a party in and to come down to check it out.
"So me and a few friends headed down and basically fell in love with the place straight away, it had a vibe to it , it felt almost like a secret illegal rave. There were two stages at that time - a cow barn stage and a second tent.
"I remember having a bit of a moment sat on one of the hay bales in the barn saying this place is just both brilliant and beautiful ….A few weeks later I met with Herbie and we discussed me getting involved, so I did."
Fletch joined Herbie alongside his partner Rebecca Rosenberg and now the three of them head up Moovin alongside a loyal crew to create the rapidly developing event each year. Fletch laughs: "Big shout out to the crew as there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that no one hears about - trust me we could write a really crazy, funny book."
Whitebottom Farm remains a working farm when not in use for the Moovin Festival - and has also become a popular spot for weddings and events thanks to the stunning countryside around. The Farm is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Etherow Country Park just near Marple.
From the entrance to the Country Park there is a single one track road with a gorgeous walk alongside lakes and rivers, and as you arrive at the entrance to the festival site you are greeted by a flowing gorge and waterfall .
Fletch says: "The park is a tourist attraction itself so we are very lucky to have found such a beautiful spot it really does feel like you're away from everything.
"The Farm is still working however the cows are not in the barn anymore, it's used for weddings most weekends now and also there’s a country festival called Buckle & Boots and an Irish Festival over the summer."
Fletch says they feel the festival has grown "organically" by expanding the amount and style of tents each year, with this year's festival boasting five stages. There's a focus on boho details and decor keeping to the style and vibe that the event has become known for.
There have also been bigger acts, after those early years of DJ-led rave-style entertainment. Fletch says: "Moovin now I would say musically is a pretty eclectic mix - you can find anything from house music, drum & bass / jungle, to hip hop, reggae, world music, DMC scratch champions, beatboxing flute players, harpists, opera singers and everything in between.
"There was no real science behind the bookings We basically book all the acts that we love and luckily its attached a really nice crowd that is also a massive part of the festival."
The Barn Stage remains the focus of the event, the former cow shed being fully converted into a bar and stage area now. It is one of the unique charms of the festival, and hence the nods in the name of "Moovin" as well as other stages named the likes of "The Udder One" and "Mini Moo".
Friday night will be headlined by Black Grape, Saturday by dance icons Orbital, and Sunday by Ray Ayers, while eagerly-anticipated sets will also come from the likes of Jazzy Jeff, Jazzie B, Louie Vega and Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin' Criminals. DJ sets will also come from the likes of Graeme Park, Craig Charles, DJ Paulette and Jon DaSilva.
Aside from the music, there’s yoga classes and morning gong baths to start the day, treatments like massage and reflexology, ethically sourced food and drink, fresh coffee, fresh juices. Stalking the festival fielders across the weekend will be hoopers, dancers, chancers, circus, fire-eaters, poets, and what the organisers say will be "magic and mayhem."
As for the future, Fletch believes there's so much potential thanks to the love for the Moovin setting and set-up from not only the fans, but the artists too. He says: "With Moovin we seem to attract some big acts for a festival our size I think we have a solid reputation and a lot of the acts try and schedule their slots around other shows that weekend so they can stay and party with us.
"We have a staple group of established and local acts that are here year in year out it's like family.
"I think for the headline acts we offer something a bit different and it's a chance for them to play in a unique setting to a more intimate crowd than they are maybe used to."
Moovin Festival runs from Friday August 26 to Sunday August 28 at Whitebottom Farm, Stockport. Early bird tickets have sold out, but day tickets can still be purchased online from £35 for Friday, and from £55 for Saturday and Sunday or full weekend tickets from £127 plus booking fees. For more details see moovinfestival.com
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