Kokova Magazine

With headline acts including Jessie J and The Vamps, Soul II Soul, Rae Morris and Natahn Ball it was always going to be a winner on stage at Boomerang Hickstead this past weekend.

But the added autumn sunshine, smooth running and on-time acts really put the icing on the cake for this premier Hickstead event - that is set to 'Boomerang' back in 2016.

Day One of Boomerang Hickstead was an enjoyable, if somewhat sedate affair, that gently paved the way for a great weekend, deep in the heart of West Sussex.

After a slow start to the weekend and relaxed crowds word started to spread, securing the Sunday as the day not to miss - and certainly brought in a much larger, livelier crowd.

And if the screams that could be heard as The Vamps took to the stage were any measure of this first year's success, then the final performance from Jessie J sealed the deal. The crowd could not get enough in to their Sunday evening, soaking up every note of the headline acts, with many not wanting to leave even after Jessie J had left the stage.

Hickstead is a fabulous setting for this new event and makes a refreshing change. Just a solo stage for the focal point of the music, with a selection of quality stands around the arena, serving a selection of locally sourced food.

For 2016 it would be good to see a few more stalls around, selling blankets and festival goods, especially an extra layer or two to ward off the evening chill for the many parents that were supporting the next generation, at what could have been their first outdoor festival.

Throughout both days smaller dancing displays entertained the crowds, and for future years it would be nice to see some more polished displays from the local community, with the chance for the many younger revellers to join in, with crowd participation. A few jugglers and stilt walkers would certainly add to the festival feel but we are sure Hickstead will have many ideas to make this event grow.

All we can say is that we had a fabulous weekend without the hassle of hours of travel, and we spent some quality time out in the Sussex open air, enjoying a good selection of music at an exciting new venue for this type of entertainment.

Aside from the clearing up, this morning Hickstead should also be patting itself on the back for taking a chance of a change in direction, and a job well done.