Deer Shed Festival returned for it’s 15th anniversary celebration this weekend with a sold-out crowd of 10 000 heading to the family-friendly three day event in North Yorkshire.
I say this every year and I’ll say it again now – when a festival programme has 145 pages and only 36 of those are information about the bands and set times then you know this is so much more than just a music festival. Deer Shed has to be the best festival anywhere for families with younsters ranging in age from under 5’s to 17 year olds. Not only is there a whole plethora of bands to see ranging from mainstream to alternative, dance, electro and punk there’s a comedy tent (hilarious set from John Shuttleworth), films, spoken word, arts workshops including poetry, drumming, rag rugging, pottery, copper ring making and a huge list of others. You can indulge in a hot tub, go for a wild swim, get a massage. You can listen to fireside stories, do some yoga. There’s a sports field where youngsters can wrestle, play football/rounders/cricket. There’s a science tent, activities for toddlers, soft play, the legendary Feral Farm where kids basically tear up hay bales and then throw the bits at each other and their parents until they collapse from exhaustion.
There’s a decent variety of food and drink available at typical festival prices. And despite this year selling out and 10000 people being present it never feels particularly crowded. It also feels incredibly safe, friendly and welcoming.
I was here for the music and that music didn’t disappoint. Big name headliners Wunderhorse, Kae Tempest and The Big Moon entertained the masses with sterling sets and for each it was brilliant to see the youngsters on the barrier, some on their parents shoulders, some clasping home made posters stating how much they love specific bands.
For this reviewer it was the bands who appeared earlier in the days that delivered the real highlights of the weekend. Friday opened with a superb set of off-kilter, experimental pop by multi-instrumentalist Dilettante on the In The Dock Stage. Following this The Pill hammered out a killer poppy-punk influenced set of tunes on the main stage full of humour and poking fun at modern day life. Divorce brought their alternative Americana influenced sounds to an appreciative audience before The None delivered the set of the day. When a band consists of people from Youth Man, Bloc Party, Cassels and Fraud you know they’re going to be good and The None completely blew the In The Dock Stage apart with their hard hitting, screeching, sonic punch to the gut noisy rock. A real wake-up for anyone wondering where the alternative noise merchants might be found over the weekend. Not too far away, set beside the chilled out vibes of the lake and it’s canoeists, is The Lodge Stage. Small, with a covered area for those watching the performers it is here that Honk played 45 minutes of superb, quirky, country rock n roll packed full of slide guitar and keys. If you weren’t there then you missed a treat. Put them on your list for next time you and them are at the same event. In The Dock is rammed for it’s Friday headliner. Antony Szmierek delivers everything those here to see him could wish for. Love, loss and life’s mysteries delivered as spoken word over upbeat sounds. Spending my formative years growing up in Stockport I probably appreciate ‘The Great Pyramid Of Stockport’ more than most (it’s a huge glass pyramid building straight in front of you as you exit the M60 towards Stockport town centre, formerly the home of the Co-op’s headquarters). Szmierek also does a decent cover of New Order’s ‘True Faith’.
Saturday leaves little time for anything except the music such is the quality on offer. The early start is well worth it and at 10 past 11 in the morning Cowboy Hunters pummel us with a quality set of pounding beats and furious vocals. It’s raw, packed full of massive, fuzzy riffs. And there’s only two of them. Drums and guitar, Megan and Desmond swap intruments and vocal duties half way through as they hammer out a fantastic 40 minutes of grungy punk rock.
Lunchtime sees us witness what, to me, was one of the two completely outstanding sets of the festival. Deer Shed was packed with brilliant sets by many bands but every so often you see an artist/band that simply blows you away. A band where, even if you know their output and might even have seen before, just leave you with a real “Wow! What did I just witness?” feeling. The first of those was The Sick Man Of Europe. Pulsing electronic beats that judder along, subtle keyboards, repetitious bass. The sounds are mesmorising, hypnotic, yet packed full of dancey, trance inducing hooks. Vocals delivered without expression, deadpan, intense. Enveloped completely in hazy red light The Sick Man Of Europe create a tension few other bands manage to achieve. Some reviews liken them to Joy Division. A better reference point might be those early (very early, before they were famous early) sounds of Soft Cell/Depeche Mode/Fad Gadget – think ‘The Girl With The Patent Leather Face’/’Photographic’ but even more monochromatic. Besides Ian Curtis didn’t spend most of JD’s concerts prowling along the barrier or in amongst the crowd.
Adult DVD never disappoint with their layered mix of synths, guitar, thumping drums, quirky lyrics and irresistible dance beats. Adult DVD create a party atmosphere and within minutes the place is bouncing and the dancing doesn’t stop until they walk off stage to rapturous applause 45 minutes later.
Hamish Hawk is brilliant on the main stage. Witty, quirky, theatrical, sometimes anthemic, sometimes dark, always attention grabbing. There’s a sizeable number in the crowd who are obviously obsessive fans, knowing every lyric Hawk sings, adding to an upbeat atmosphere despite the sometimes sombre undertones of his lyrics.
Ibibio Sound Machine bring the good time vibes and massive electronic afro-funk dance tunes. Infectious rhythms and a band full of joy. They’re fun, engaging and, in lead singer Eno Williams, someone who swirls around the stage, smile beaming, oozing an energy that has the young and the not so young boogying away across the whole main stage arena.
Huge credit also to the other bands seen today. Honeyglaze, Maruja, Moonchild Sanelly and, of course, headliner Kae Tempest all bringing their own unique sounds to a festival that always delivers something special for everyone that attends.
Sunday is another day that shows just how far Deer Shed has come in booking quality bands across a variety of genres. On mainstage Mandrake Hanshake treat us to 45 minutes of superb psychedelic, arty, funky pop. Eccentric, often dreamy hip swaying beats. So many different sounds it’s hard to stick a category on them which is no bad thing.
Benefits deliver that other completely outstanding set. In fact Benefits are my band of the weekend. Emerging from the sonic assault, the furious anger and brutal sensual assault of debut album ‘Nails’ their new long player ‘Constant Noise’ delivers that same level of discontent and rage against the systems that try to keep us in our place but layers it over some glorious, banging dance beats and pensive ambient sounds. Their set on In The Dock Stage is the perfect example of how you draw people in, grip their attention, their need to dance and at the same time hammer your message home. Watching Benefits hits hard emotionally. Anger, torment, fear, anxiety. It’s all here. Then, as their set draws to a close, Kingsley Hall brings his young daughter on stage, holds her high in her festival cape, beaming smiles across both their faces and we’re reminded that there is still a huge amount of love in the world.
The rest of Sunday afternoon is spent in the company of The Bug Club‘s brilliant, pacey, humour filled, indie rock and Bodega‘s punchy, spikey, catchy rock n roll. Opening with a great cover of Paranoid as tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne Bodega are always a festival highlight. Check out their alter-ego Nodega for a real punked up Bodega. Merseyside’s King Hannah draw us into the evening with a first rate set of distorted guitar driven lo-fi numbers. Imagine if you can blending together a little Dry Cleaning, some Mazzy Star, a touch of Throwing Muses and you’ll get an idea.
Always fun, always brilliant, always bang on point Big Special headline In The Dock. It’s a glorious 60 minutes of post-punked up funky RnB that draws on both new album ‘National Average’ and 2024 debut ‘Post Industrial Hometown Blues’. In The Dock is rammed. Kids on shoulders swaying their arms, everyone else bopping in unison. And whilst I’m not one to encourage swearing it’s great to hear someone probably no older than eight or nine singing along to ‘Shithouse’. Proof that really decent music still reaches the future generations of gig supporters.
Mainstage headliners The Big Moon draw a massive crowd with their emotive, poignant, sing-a-long rocky numbers. They’re perfect for a festival such as Deer Shed.
There is nothing to dislike about Deer Shed Festival. Nestled amongst the lush surroundings of the North Yorkshire countryside it really is a festival everyone will enjoy. Families, friends, music fans and anyone else who appreciates mega relaxed vibes amongst like-minded souls.
Early bird tickets for Deer Shed 2026 sold out in just 12 hours so grab a ticket sooner rather than later to be sure of not missing what will be another sell out event next year.
2026 tickets available at http://www.deershedfestival.com
Photos/words Steve White
You may not agree with my favourites but wouldn’t it be a boring world if we all liked the same thing.
Gallery below of every band seen and a few people shots. Click on any image to open slide show.
