LoSt VaGUeNeSS :: Wessex Scene Online

LoSt VaGUeNeSS

31st October 2005
Stephen Thompson

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Jun 06 - The Hi-Fi Festival - Homelands Remixed
Mar 06 - Homelands Festival Scrapped
Nov 05 - London Elektricity Live & Squeeze 18
Nov 05 - Outofthevoid.co.uk 2nd Birthday Party
Nov 05 - Squeeze 18: Andy C at the Cube

More by Stephen Thompson

Jun 06 - Interview with The Feeling
Apr 06 - Elbow live at Southampton Guildhall
Feb 06 - The Pogues at Brixton Academy
Feb 06 - Music DVD: Muse
Feb 06 - England Expects

For forty-eight hours only, Lost Vagueness provided over 4,000 revellers with the chance to find a hidden hedonistic paradise on a small organic farm in Sussex. Fancy dress was encouraged but not compulsory.

In fact the rules of this summer spectacular were fairly simple to understand: have fun and do whatever you like, providing what you do does not interfere with anyone else’s fun. This festival began as an illicit travellers’ gathering on the fringe of Glastonbury. The aim of Lost Vagueness has always been to blur the boundaries between performers and spectators. Crowd participation is the glue holding this glitzy extravaganza together.

The carnival atmosphere was infectious and it soon became impossible to resist interaction. Half-an-hour after arriving, I was sharing a beer with a complete stranger who was taking a break from an incessant stomping dance, which had made him very thirsty. This was just the first of many encounters I experienced over the weekend, which can only be described as random but hugely entertaining. There were several ‘rooms’ on the festival site, each unique and offering something comically unpredictable and strange. For example, the Ballroom presented cabaret acts, Champaign and general glamour. The green grass underfoot bizarrely complemented this eccentric mixture.

The Casino offered every type of gambling known to man. The Chapel of Love and Loathing provided en-masse weddings or crucifixions, depending on what tickled your fancy. The Aero Diner, was constructed out of bits of old planes, so you could to sit and enjoy some of the exquisite food on offer from various stalls. I personally went for an organic beef burger with plenty of chemical-free salad. The Changing Room had dressing up clothes available to hire for those who had come under-prepared and the Launderette’s Pamper Parlour supplied a ready source of make up to add the finishing touches. A bonfire was held at midnight, with a gigantic metal dollar sign being symbolically burnt, to signify the festival’s liberal attitude and its proud freedom from the global capitalist grip.

The music consisted of several eclectic styles, from regular house to ska. The Young Blood Brass Band has been described as New York’s finest export. From their performance on the Friday night, I think this is a title they truly deserve. Their fiendish mixture of jazz and hip-hop really got the crowd warmed up for the rest of the evening. The Priscillas really stole the show. With their PVC boots and raucous live routine I found them remarkable as well as intimidating. Their unique blend of glam rock could not have suited the venue better, and even the red canvas roof of the Ballroom seemed to be writhing with pleasure.

On Saturday night the weather was drizzly, but the partygoers were determined not to let this dampen their spirits. The Empty Headz offered something quite special. This was a festival debut for this weird but wonderful consortium of breakbeat, hip-hop and ska producers, all expertly rolled into one sweet seven-piece band. Their music was fresh, lively and impossible to turn your back on. Another highlight was Hiphoptimists. The man behind this crazy new beat band is Andy Barlow, better known from Lamb fame. He brought to the festival crisp grooves and funky tunes, through a set that could be described as mind bogglingly impressive.

After visiting Lost Vagueness, my whole view of the world had changed. It made me realise that life is what we make of it and apart from the few exceptions, all people are good at heart. In my humble opinion, large commercial festivals have had their day. The way forward is definitely the smaller independent festivals, which retain the power of expression and encourage creativity. Originality was key to the success of this extravaganza. Art, music, fantasy, dance and fancy dress were all blended together to form the comprehensive building blocks of this footloose and fancy-free carnival. Lost Vagueness provided a chance to follow Alice down the rabbit hole and discover a hidden world constructed of dreams and a wonderland that closed minded people would struggle to comprehend.