What's your involvement in L Fest?
We organise the three music areas - the main Arena stage, the
Firepit Sessions and the Riverboat Sessions
What's special about the music line-up at L
Fest?
This year is particularly special because we have all the
members of the L Project performing their charity single 'It Does
Get Better' (of which all proceeds go to the chosen charities,
Diversity Role Models and Stonewall) and not only that, but we then
have all the members performing with their individual bands over
weekend - a treat to behold! We also have a selection of
top-notch DJs, dancers, solo artists, all performing for the crowds
- it is packed full to the brim of lady talent!
With so much going on, how will you make sure it all
runs smoothly?
The key to any event of this size and spec is to ensure you have
a 'spot on' team around you who know what they are doing! We have
an amazing Stage Manager - a Norwegian beauty by the name of Grete
Bjelde - and we also have a team of totally dedicated
volunteers/experts who help us throughout the weekend. We've got it
all covered with expert precision!
What can we see at L Fest that we can't see anywhere
else?
Well, you get to see a selection of musicians, authors, DJs,
comedians and performers from all over the country, coming together
to have a celebration of women and creativity - it's a beautiful
thing - and a very special thing. It is the only lesbian festival
in the country this year… Very exciting!
What can we expect from your band Eeek's set at L
Fest?
A delicious delivery of mellifluous melodies and 'soul folk'
fabulousness!
Who are all the members of your band and what do they
play?
Mandy (Burton) on guitar, Lucy (Burton) on main vocals, Karen
Milne on drums/percussion, Danielle Wilson on backing vocals and
Ruth Bradney on bass.
Apart from the music, what else are you looking forward
to about the L Fest weekend?
Oh, so much! We have a very special guest joining us from New
Zealand. She is a lady called Sam RB who wrote the Olympic
song, 'Stand Tall' for the New Zealand Olympic team for London 2012
and she is coming to perform her song to open our very own L Fest
Games. We shall certainly be watching that! We suspect that will be
a great moment… So many great films, including Jan's Coming Out
which we are really looking forward to seeing. We also have Sarah
Waters and Stella Duffy joining us for readings and Q&A
sessions over the weekend which is so exciting. And we have the big
Tipping the Velvet Masked Ball on the Saturday night which will be
amazing. We just hope we get the time to see everything.
What kind of campers are you?
Mandy loves camping - she is very adept at it, therefore she
loves it. Lucy loves Mandy, therefore, loves camping (and does
actually secretly like camping, just a little bit - but is a bit
freakish about bugs crawling over you in the night).
What's the rest of your life like?
We have an exceptionally busy life. We have a beautiful
daughter, Martha, two dogs (Obi and Dexter). We both work full-time
outside of L Fest, as well as having the band and our families. So
life is pretty much non-stop, but we wouldn't have it any other
way.
So what's it like to be so busy and do so much
together?
Spending all of your time with your best friend… how can that be
anything but awesome? We do have our quarrels and disagreements,
but it all adds to the pot of life and love. Lucy is definitely the
one who talks more and is the 'people' person - Mand is the quiet
one who mingles around, behind the scenes, keeping the cogs turning
and sorting all the technical side to our life - whether it's one
of Martha's toys that has broken, the washing machine or a guitar
amp, Mand can just fix stuff. Lucy, on the other hand, is utterly
useless with machines but very good with humans.
Anything else we should know?
We are so excited to be part of L Fest and the team of women who
have come together under the direction of Festival Director Cindy
Edwards. Everyone is so passionate about women in the arts and it
is inspiring to be around such amazing people. We can't wait for
the big weekend - not long now!
L Fest: Shrewsbury, 13-16 July
2012
Tickets still available at www.lfest.co.uk
