All Fun in the Workhouse

Ronnie Parry with a snapshot of the charitable Llanfyllin Wokhouse Festival

PLAY is a welcome four letter word at the Workhouse Festival. Situated in Llanfyllin, Powys, Workhouse  is a golden nugget on the summer scene. The not-for-profit festival has been channelling money into the community-run charitable Workhouse Project. Y Dolydd Workhouse was home for the  impoverished in the 19th century. It featured in the BBC Two series Restoration in the summer of 2004.  Winner of the 2008 Greener Festival Award,  Workhouse is 100% powered by renewable  energy.

The environmental and community-based ethos underpin all aspects. This year’s highlights on the music stages  were plentiful. On the main stage the Blockheads brought  the house down to finish the festival. An acoustic tent and electronik boutique  pounded with beats and rhythms. My favourite little place had to be Maison  Du Chien. The solar powered venue and cafe collective laid on a tasty treat of world, dance,  folk and acoustic music.

The weather remained fair but rain arrived on Saturday evening. There was hardly a dry eye in the Cabaret Tent where social realist poet Attila the  Stockbroker delighted. With excellent on site facilities, a captivating green innovations area and helpful stewards this is the friendliest festival I’ve  ever been to.

© 2009 Ronnie Parry

Pictures by Wyn Rimmer

© Miwsig