@arctangentfestival ; from our humble beginnings back in August 2013 to our tenth edition in August 2024, it's been a ride! I may say this every year, but without doubt, ArcTanGent this year was our best one yet; from the line-up, to the smooth install, running and de-rig, to the warmth and friendliness of the community that ATG has become...it couldn't have been better. Even the sun shone on the Mendip Hills (with an obligatory dump of rain, because let's be honest, it wouldn't be ArcTanGent without it!)
In contrast, the road to this milestone has been anything but smooth with steep-learnings and a global pandemic to navigate along the way (just to keep us on our toes). Owning and running an independent festival is never easy, as unfortunately 2024 has shown us with 59 independent festivals postponing or cancelling for good in 2024 alone. There are professional battles and personal sacrifices that go into making an independent festival what it is and it is heartbreaking to see so many, well-loved festivals unable to continue due to rising costs and a lack of government support.
ArcTanGent has enabled me to fulfil a childhood dream, to create lifelong memories for millions of people. There is no greater feeling than looking across an audience of elated faces completely immersed in live music, or hearing people singing raucously from a distance at the not-so-silent Silent Disco or the unexpected handshake of thanks. Whilst this dream is mine, the festival is a labor of love, and it wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team. To our staff, crew and volunteers, you all make ArcTanGent what it is and we simply couldn't do it without you. To our audience, thank you for creating the wonderful ArcTanGent community that has earnt itself a reputation that precedes itself.
Celebrating this milestone is however short lived, we go again...2025...let's be having you!
Photo credit 📸 @snaprockandpop
And that’s a wrap on @worldxo_org Summit 2026. For the third day in a row I connected with and learnt from incredible people working in or in close proximity to the experience economy. An inspiring talk by Paul Nicholls of @factoryfifteen about creating content for the Sphere in Las Vegas, then joined a Roundtable: The Art of Listening | Music & the Experience Economy hosted by @keith_but_not_keith (thank you for the book!) alongside Tom Middleton Vance Garrett Gen Cleary Ulla Winkler Alicia Yaffe Jeena Earthiva George Berlin Julie Blore-Bizot Elliott Dunwody and Felipe Sánchez Luna - a highly energetic, healthy debate about the music industry in relation to experience. Memory, Magic, Money talk by Stephen Martell of De-Yab was hugely insightful and followed quite soon by a creative workshop hosted by the legend of @futureofstorytelling Charlie Mulcher. Huge congratulations to @jameswallman Mike Goldsmith and the wider WXO team for another great Summit!
Day one of @worldxo_org Summit at @ministryofsound started with a bang and some seriously big hitters. Always a pleasure to cross paths with Joe Pine (who I met for the first time at the WXO Summit in 2023) and then to hear him speak so in-depthly about flourishing as a concept in relation to transformation. Following on by another inspirational and transformation based talk by the legend that is Bob Rogers of @brcimaginationarts who I had the honour to speak to afterwards about some very specific storytelling mechanics.
Other highlights of my day include a Mike Goldsmith instantly referencing music as soon as I walked into MoS, a hello from the founder of WXO James Wallman just before he introduced Bob, meeting the most delightful Nina Hansdotter Usher in person for the first time and very shortly after bumping into Steve Usher, both of @theexperiencedesigners always a pleasure.
Day two tomorrow, let’s go!
Sending off the @callumballrun this morning from Brands Hatch Place @handpickedhotels - thanks to dilloncallum7 and Handler Property the invite! 🇬🇧 🏎️ 🇫🇷 #callumballrun2026
@arctangentfestival Christmas - ATGmas - took place last night with some of the legends that help to build, break and run the festival, we couldn’t do it without you 🤘🏻🖤
