Mello Festival 2019 - Katie Charlotte Blogs

Festival season is upon us! The Cotswolds is home to a variety of fantastic festivals – from Cheltenham Festival (horse racing) and Cheltenham Festivals (Jazz, Science, Music and Literature), to The Big Feastival, we are really spoilt for choice. One festival I hadn’t come across before though was Mello, a family friendly festival based near Worcester. I was kindly invited to go along for the day, so with my best friend in tow, we made our way to Mello Festival…

AD I was kindly invited along to review the festival for the blog. As always, my opinions are my own and my love for good music is real.

Located at the Severn End Country Estate in Hanley Castle, Mello Festival dubs itself ‘the biggest chilled festival’, and I can see why. Whilst it’s no Wilderness or Green Man (which I understand to ooze pretty ‘chilled’ vibes), if you’re looking for something local, safe for all the family and affordable then Mello Festival is for you.

With the likes of Craig Charles, The Brand New Heavies and Goldie Lookin’ Chain headlining over the three days, DJ sets and new talent on the Severn Sounds stage, there’s a real mix of music genres to enjoy.

You can easily pass the time away by people watching – some go all out with their costumes and it’s fascinating! Although some are a little questionable…

And then we have the likes of Levi Roots and Boycie (yes, the actual Boycie from Only Fools and Horses – signing books and taking selfies with fans! – I did say there was variety!

Of course, there are also a ton of food stalls offering up tasty sweet and savoury snacks throughout the day.

We opted for chips first, followed by Churros a little later on…

There was a bar in each tent serving up soft and alcoholic drinks. As designated driver, I opted for Vimto (this was a real treat when I was a kid!) but Sarah enjoyed a few mixed berry ciders throughout the afternoon. It’s worth noting that when you order your first drink, you also need to purchase a reusable cup for £1 – which also doubles up as a nice festival souvenir – but if you want to save cash I would suggest taking your own.

£2.50 for a pint of something non-alcoholic, or £4.50 for a pint of something a little stronger isn’t bad in my book…

For me, the two real highlights of the day were MF Robots and incognito. If I’m being honest, I hadn’t heard of either before Mello Festival, but now are a firm favourite on my Spotify playlist.

That’s one of the things I love most about festivals – discovering new (and old) music, no matter what age you are. Everyone is there for the same reason.

MF Robots is fronted by Brand New Heavies’ singer Dawn Joseph, who has the most incredible voice and stage presence – so it’s no surprise that she’s been a backing singer for the likes of Michael Buble, Rick Astley and Rod Stewart. You’ll also find Heavies founder Jan Kincaid on the drums.

Incognito is a British jazz band who were popular way back in the 80’s – ask your parents if they’ve heard of them. Each singer had a chance to shine too, boasting beautiful soulful voices. I couldn’t stop myself from dancing, and neither could anyone else apparently!

‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing’ is such a tune, I urge you all to play it loud and have a dance in your kitchen after you’ve read this post…

Both acts had everyone feeling uplifted with their upbeat funk & soul sounds and energetic performances – and the perfect way to end our day at Mello Festival.

It’s a great family day out, not only are there fun activities for the kids, it’s the perfect place for adults to let loose with great bands and DJs.

You can opt for weekend or day passes – depending on whether you fancy camping or not – both affordable options. Please visit their website here to find out the ticket prices for 2020 or to book your early bird pass today.

Overall, it’s a fun festival for friends and family – young or old – there’s entertainment for everyone. You can dress up, dress down – or dress as a banana apparently!