
The Good Life Experience 2016
I’ve just returned from a great weekend with my family at The Good Life Experience near Chester and couldn’t wait to share some festival photography of this wonderful family event.
The Good Life Experience was founded in 2014 by four friends Cerys Matthews, Steve Abbott and Charlie & Caroline Gladstone, and they’ve created a festival that is genuinely different and based around themes of self-sufficiency, the great outdoors and getting back to basics. It’s full of the great activities ranging from live music, guest speakers, art & craft workshops, swing & lindy hop dancing, to vintage fairs, archery, axe throwing, forge kitchenware, bushcraft and pottery making, to name but a few.

Ben Fogle and his labrador Storm
The highlights of the weekend for myself were listening to Ben Fogle talk about his travels and adventures, Jeremy Vine describing his broadcasting highlights, and the amazing Swing Patrol dance class… now I’ve got the bug!!!
It was also lovely watching my son be inspired by David Setter’s Doodle Planet workshop and DJ78 with his 1930’s wind up gramophones, and great to see him joining in the ukulele workshop, having a go at archery and getting so excited by the vintage heater skelter and the simpler pleasures in life. Not a computer in sight… Pure bliss :)

Using a pair of 1930’s HMV wind-up gramophones and an eclectic collection of vintage shellac records, DJ78 provides a unique musical accompaniment to any gathering without compromising the art of conversation. Looking dapper in his vintage suits, DJ78 takes great pride in introducing the modern world to the crackly sounds of yesteryear. My son was so impressed, on our return, it led to us getting our record player down from the loft and dusting off our old vinyl records, another new experience from the weekend and this stimulates the curious minds of children in this digital age.

Jeremy Vine from BBC Radio 2

Caught By The River Caught featured contributions from writers, artists, musicians and like-minded thinkers and many more…

Spoon Carving, Axe Paddle Bushcraft and Bow Making Shop and Workshops

Swing Patrol is a community of dancers passionately spreading the joy of the Lindy Hop, Blues, Charleston and Balboa dances, giving demonstrations and involving the whole family in a fabulous energetic dance class to live music by The Shirt Tail Stompers playing the big band sounds.

Swing Patrol with live music by The Shirt Tail Stompers at The Good Life Experience 2016

Vintage Helter Skelter nearly 100 years old

Archery at The Good Life Experience Festival

Ukulele workshop at The Good Life Experience Festival

A festival goer at at The Good Life Experience Festival

David Setter, AKA DoodlePlanet is an illustrator and painter based in North Wales. He draws inspiration from the beauty of the surrounding landscape. His commercial illustration has been utilised by Jaguar Landrover, Siemens, 02, Plusnet, London Olympics 2012 and many more. David held workshops throughout the weekend and he really inspired my son by drawing simple doodles and making them into recognisable drawings.

Live music at The Black Cow Saloon

The W.I. hosting a series of Pop-Up Knit and Natter sessions over the festival weekend, and also makes idyllic event photography

Pumpkin Carving