Castlefest / Noordwijk - post 6 - Saturday at Castlefest

[vampyresheep]

Saturday, traditionally the day of epic tarting up

After our usual photos outside the bungalow, we set off to get there for around 11am.












A bit of confusion about where to drop me off for the bus but we luckily managed it just in time again, as the bus was arriving, with space for me to board, getting me into the venue way before the rest of our group!

Not much in the way of bands during the day, so time was mostly spent shuffling slowly around the market, seeking Rob's birthday presents but mostly buying more stuff for myself (dragon bracelet!!!!), checking out the battle treatment arena and steampunk areas and spotting friends.



love the variety of people at this event!






watched the battle reenactment performance from Rosa D'Acciaio










quite amused by the sight of Death looking on from the sidelines. :-)




a steampunk show but understandably, it wasn't in English, so we couldn't work out what was going on.










my lovely new bracelet.












the rather lovely garden area, shame it had been hijacked by a vegan campaign stand this year (not saying it shouldn't be at the festival, just not at this place, which is supposed to be a beautiful peaceful place to rest away from the crowds)




finally found Wendy and Gerrit.  Wendy's stunning mermaid dress just stole the show!






















the fantastic promenading dragons












the Wicca statue


















this guy's outfit was amazing, didn't realise he was there at first, thought the lady was resting her head on some giant prop!


Back in the lovely Village area




a pagan parade passing through

The evening was clash central, but as we'd seen Theodor Bastard the day before, we opted to stay at the main Forest Stage for Corvus Corax. Got to a spot in the front in time for the Wicca burning ritual and typical of tradition, the heavens opened with a massive rain storm! They delayed the ritual until the rain subsided, put music on and the band and organisers stood on the stage getting photos of us all getting drenched! Many were dancing in the rain, whilst the rest of us huddled under umbrellas, making new friends. Cold and uncomfortable, but fun!

The Wicca went off well, always a beautiful experience and then Corvus Corax played. Great fun and a stage full of testosterone as usual!











after the rains!








so pretty! ;-)

We had an hour to wait for the final band, Heilung, and I was cold, wet and in great discomfort but I wasn't missing this for the world! Had a quick coffee and sit down, then went back to find a spot near the front. Possibly not wise, given my injuries, as it was quite crowded but you just don't get the atmosphere from the back, hidden under the trees.

My word, was it worth the wait! An incredible show - if Noise acts existed in the Viking Age, this is what they might have sounded like. Dark, tribal, powerful, mesmerising, fronted by a male and female singer, both with powerful voices and bedecked in bones and antlers, occasionally joined by a choir of Viking warriors, it was both a visual and  aural experience like no other.
















I confess that I was glad for the evening to being over, so tired I could barely stand and didn't want to risk waiting for a bus that didn't show, that late at night, however it was an amazing evening, a gig that I won't soon forget.

 
Full gallery of photos here: https://vampyresheep.smugmug.com/Holidays/Castlefest-217/006-Castlefest-Sunday

Comments

[motodraconis]

Wow! It looks like such a fantastic festival. The variety of outfits is brilliant (so pleased to see that the UK contingent are top of the league!)

Rather jealous, but also pretty impressed at your stamina in spite of injury. (I'm such a lightweight with these things.)

[vampyresheep]

It is a lovely event, very friendly and chilled out with so much to see!
I was very limited this year though, a lot more than my photos might imply; resulting in Rob and I spending more time by ourselves as I was concerned about holding other people up so the social aspect was a little more limited this year.
Previous years there have been a bigger group, joined by Wendy, Liddy etc too; so we'd set up a "base camp" near the main stage where there was always someone around. But this year, I couldn't even sit on the floor, so that option was out too! gah.