Signalling the start of the summer, Shindig Festival (23rd – 26th May) will be celebrating its tenth birthday.  As per the previous two years, the event will be held at Dillington Estate, Somerset. However, this will be the last dance at Dillington, as the landowner’s future plans involve more farming than festivals. Its eleventh birthday will be celebrated in a different location.


Tenth Birthday Music Line Up
Shindig combines old-skool royalty, festival residents with many rising stars to ensure it’s a soundtrack like no other. Groove Armada (DJ set), Brand New Heavies, Mad Professor featuring General Levy and Sandra Cross, are on the bill. Along with Kurupt FM - the radio, TV and Bafta winning movie stars.

 
New York house DJ John Morales, who has remixed all the greats from The Rolling Stones, Spandau Ballet, Aretha Franklin to Hall & Oates, Candi Staton, and Rod Stewart will play on Saturday. Definitely not to be missed.

 
House heads will enjoy Jody Wisternoff, (half of Bristol-based duo Way Out West) plus Terry Farley and his Faith crew: Stuart Patterson and Dave Jarvis will be performing as part of their 25 year celebrations.

 
Drum n Bass lovers can get down to Run in the Jungle (T>I & D*Minds) and look forward to Jungle Mania with Congo Natty, DJ Rap with The Ragga Twins and Brockie & Det.  


Breaks enthusiasts will enjoy King of the Beats: Krafty Kuts, Plump DJs and The Freestylers. As well as Kraak & Smaak, Smoove & Turrell & The Allergies.


The festival is going back to its roots - showcasing many of the artists who have played over the decade and helped to make the weekend what it is today: Shosh (24 hr Garage Girls), Greg Wilson, Altern 8, Odyssey, Gardna, Dub Pistols, The Cuban Brothers, Stanton Warriors and Dutty Moonshine.

 
Comedy Line up
And it’s not just music. Each year the line-up includes some comic geniuses. For 2024, it’s Reginald D. Hunter, Angelos Epithemiou, Olivia Lee and viral sensation Red Richardson.

 

Chai Wallahs Collaboration
Critically acclaimed and much-loved festival crew Chai Wallahs join the Shindig family for 2024.  Well known for providing spectacular spaces at Greenman, Secret Garden Party and Shambala, the team will combine to turn the Dig Inn venue into the biggest the festival has ever had. This means more people can enjoy the headliners in style. Expect incredible music, soul-warming vibes and ridiculous cocktails.

 

Will Lardner, Festival co-founder says:
“Enter in the dance, plug it in and we begin… our tenth birthday is going to be extra special. Expect great music from people we admire and adore. Some you will know and some you will get to know. From takeovers and collaborations to royalty and rising stars, it’s going to be amazing. Let’s leave Dillington with a bang. And dance till the cows come home (literally).”

 

Shindig Festival has evolved over the years from being a party for the network of friends of the Ghetto Funk record label to a festival with a reputation for an incredible line up and a super friendly vibe. It’s a glorious mash up of a gig, a free party, a circus show, a series of curious craft workshops, a wellbeing retreat and a kid’s party.

 

The dress up theme
The eagerly-awaited theme is Magical Creatures. The perfect invitation to set your inner party animal free. But if that doesn’t speak to you, there are plenty of opportunities to strut your stuff during cross-dressing Friday and Sequin Sunday.

 
 

Art installations
Expect some attention stealing, mind-bending art installations from the most visionary and trailblazing creatives of today: WREKON, Dot Master, Sam Haggerty, James Kearney, Iain Coiley, Mutoid Waste, Bex Luther and Joe Rush. Combatting waste has never been so cool. And it's all choreographed by Shindig's Creative Director: Mojo Fell.


As soon as you walk in, vast up-cycled scrap sculptures will greet you. Expect a giant phoenix bird, helicopter dragonfly, Shiva, a sabretooth tiger and an elephant. Much of this metal has come from the aerospace industry, agriculture and the military.  Now it's making art not war.

 

Recommendations and Awards
Recommended by Emily Eavis, Glastonbury organiser, as a good alternative to those who didn’t manage to get tickets and Voted ‘Best For Family Rave’ by Festival Kidz, it’s attracting an ever-more diverse crowd. There are no main stages, just a beautiful arrangement of themed dancefloors and corners to explore.


From watching circus to hearing some spoken word or discovering a new skill, there’s something for everyone. Bringing a healthy dose of foot-stomping funk and a packed programme of entertainment for all ages, Shindig Festival offers relaxation and revelry in equal measures.

Festival tickets are £200 (plus booking fee) and can be bought in instalments from the website:
https://shindigfestival.co.uk/