News / An Experience
Big-hearted festival promises ‘joyful, sweaty debauchery’
A festival with a difference is hitting the scene this year, courtesy of Bristol DJ and events organiser Kesh.
An Experience is set to be an intimate, community-focused gathering with a big heart and an ultra-inclusive attitude.
Kesh is intent on bringing people together around great sound systems for joyous, sweaty dancing to combat the monotony of modern life that is, he says, “determined to extinguish the twinkle from our eyes”.
“I believe in music, dancing, and I believe in people,” he says. “Lots of other festivals try to transport you to another world; whilst I think this is a cool type of escapism, it’s not really our angle.
“I want people to feel still like they are in the real world – but the real world is a little less rubbish.”
Kesh has built a diverse community around his big soundsystem/global music events at grassroots venues around the city including Trinity, the Boxing Gym, the Black Swan, Loco Klub and Lost Horizon – photo: Elliot Hingston
The second iteration of An Experience: Six Stages and a Boozer will take place at the former Secret Garden Party site in Huntingdon from June 6-9. It has doubled in capacity following last year’s sell-out event in Wales.
This extra space has allowed Kesh to build on his vision of encouraging the development of intergenerational friendships via the dancefloor – a passion he has pursued with his ever-popular events in Bristol – by offering free tickets to anyone over 60.
“Rally your nana, gramps, aunties n uncles, mad old bastard bar stall rambler from your local, whoever it is, as long as they are sweet and over 60,” Kesh said, announcing the initiative on social media.
“We love older people. Older people paved the way for us. Older people are legends.”
The sentiment fits with the event’s ethos which offers a warm welcome to anyone that fits their ‘no bullies, no wallies, no heroes’ policy.
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Kesh, who has in the past been found DJing in venues round the city, initially founded An Experience in a Camden pub nearly a decade ago with the intention of uniting older and younger generations on the dancefloor and encouraging play in adulthood.
Following a move to Bristol, he established Pangea in 2022, putting on nights which celebrate communities and ‘joy music’ from round the globe.
His events have featured local and global artists including Beeogo Yinga, Bloco B, the Madalitso Band, Akola Tambo, Mohamed Errebbaa, Jerome Hill, Louise Plus One and performers from Bristol Capoeira and Afridance.
The first Pangea Presents was at Trinity Centre, and his fresh approach was “mind-altering” for the nighttime industry according to Trinity’s director of culture, Jamell Ackford, who said Kesh’s way of working “reinstalls faith in people and events”.
Kesh followed up with parties at grassroots venues across the city including the Boxing Gym, the Black Swan, Loco Klub and Lost Horizon, which have been welcomed by audiences and venue managers alike.
“I met Kesh just over a year ago. He was super keen to help us with the re-opening of the boxing gym,” said JJ Fowler, the Boxing Gym’s venue manager and Incline Arts LTD founder.
“I see how he looks at events and how they can be the bridge for communities and collectives to come together. Knowing Kesh and the team, I can assure you this festival is going to be tasty.”
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An Experience 2025 will programme six stages offering live and electronic global sounds; breakbeat hardcore and ‘old rave ruffage’; ska, reggae, dub and cumbia; bossa nova at the Gaff ‘late night jive spot’; an open mic spot ‘for the folk by the folk’, and stage five, described as “all that kumbaya happy-clappy stuff”.
The full lineup is still under wraps but will include artists from Senegal, Ireland, Brazil and Bulgaria, with performers ranging in age from 19 to mid-70s and spanning a multitude of genres.
There will be a boozer offering cheap pints, scampi fries and cockney knees-up slammers, and the festival will be powered by Sinai, The Scotland Yard Sound System, Downbeat Melody and ‘lots of old and lovely hi-fi’s’.
“We want people to come for the breakbeat hardcore and get stuck in a tent listening to bossa nova for nine hours,” says Kesh.
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It’s hoped the weekend will be an uplifting and reenergising experience for audiences.
“The festival aims not to spit people out on Monday facing the stark contrast of returning to work, but to send them away feeling that the real world itself is more vibrant, carrying new friendships, pleasantly aching legs, and cherished memories,” says Kesh.
“Times are tough, and people are struggling. If we can help them find relief from their discontent through dance, play and connection then we’ve done our job.”
An Experience presents…Six Stages and a Boozer takes place from June 6-9 at Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon. Find all details at headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/grange-farm/fri-6-jun-anexperience-festival-weekender
Main images: Eddy Hubble
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