Chagstock founder releases book of memoirs

In 2012, with a newborn baby strapped to my chest, I stood in a field and gave advice and directions to people attending Chagstock festival. This was my first experience of the small music festival held just five miles from home, where my friend Simon Ford was king and the majority of the people working there came from our little Dartmoor town of Chagford.

Chagstock started before my time, but stories say it began as Simon hosting a party in his field for his friends. It grew and grew until it became too large for his back garden and moved to Whiddon Down to become, in the words of Adrian Edmondson, 'the best little festival in the South West'.

A year later I'd found myself volunteering to be Steward Manager and so became my role for the following six years.

The festival was an absolute feat of engineering all round and was the highlight of Chagford's year. Many of the locals worked tirelessly to create the magical atmosphere and setting, and we welcomed the annual return of other friends from across the country who returned to help out year after year. Simon secured top headline acts such as Bob Geldof, Fun Lovin' Criminals and KT Tunstall. The Live Lounge was the stage to showcase local talent – I got to play a few times – and Chagstock was the first big gig for folk band Noble Jacks who have since shot to fame and glory. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic was the nail in the coffin for the festival which was suffering increasing costs and increasing numbers of other small festivals popping up across the county. To the dismay of all, Simon made the tough decision to call it a day.

But now he has written a book about his experiences which is bound to be filled with the wonderfully dry humour Simon possesses. Tales of woe, love and laughter will no doubt have us laughing and crying, and leave many with fond feelings of nostalgia.

Simon is launching his book at a very special party held in The Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton, on Saturday, 28^th June. With food and live music, and an opportunity to grab a signed copy of the book, the night is open to anyone who wishes to celebrate with Simon and the Chagstock crew.

Simon's book, Chagstock: The Rise & Fall of a Music Festival, is also available from https://sf-publishing.sumupstore.com

An eBook version is also available from Amazon Kindle.