Festival’s are a time for self-expression – an opportunity to really go wild and wear what makes you feel like you! But if you’re a little bit stuck on what to wear this festival season, we’ve got a few pointers for you. Check them out below. 

FASHION DO’S AND DON’TS

DO’S

• While the British weather is wildly unpredictable, we might see some sun. This means the festival site might get hot, so light, breathable materials are vital. 
• Take a bum bag with you. If you have never taken one then expect your whole festival experience to change when you do. Perfect for those of us who can’t resist taking their iPhone (no matter what your parents say about losing it) and need to keep it safe. Hands free, no shoulder pain and a whole load more fun.
• Glitter yourself up. We all love a bit of sparkle at a festival, glitter is just a festival fashion ‘go to’. No explanation needed.
• Sheer fabrics, mesh and crochet are big at the moment. Perfect materials to add to a layered outfit.
• Thinking about colours? Monochrome is 🔥 right now, so that’s a great place to start.
• We’ve all seen the western/country inspired looks. Break out those 🤠 boots and hats 
• Pack that oversized jacket or shirt. Oversized clothing is a must these days and you can make perfect use of it at a festival. Whether it’s denim, camo, checked or pinstripe – it will 100% work.
• Bring out the fishnets. It’s risky but done right SO effective. Whether they’re paired with an oversized shirt-dress and belt or worn under mega ripped jeans – you’ll look fab!
• Mix it up with pastel hair. Why not? Pastel hair is never a bad decision and festivals are a prime time to test it out.
• Add a bit of fringe to your outfit. This just means your outfit gets a little extra attention and everyone is happy with that.
• Put that bucket hat on. EVERYBODY LOVES A BUCKET HAT.
• Wear denim. Cut-off shorts, jeans, jackets and shirts, they’re all welcome at festivals and make an easy go-to if you’re unsure what to wear but still want to look cool.
• Be carefree enough to wear a patterned shirt. This means anything goes, worn open or buttoned up; this is a piece of staple clothing for a festival.
• Find some crazy sunglasses. It’s almost an unspoken rule that everyone has to compete on who brought the best sunglasses with them, so it’s always good to get on the sunglasses bandwagon

DON’TS

• Firstly, don’t forget the essentials. Sun cream, a festival-friendly water bottle, a power bank, hand sanitizer etc. Nothing is more fashionable than good self-care. 
• Don’t attempt to wear suede, fur or leather. They will not work well with heat, rain or spilt drinks. A festival is just not the time or place for heavy layers so maybe keep these fabrics for your accessories like bags.
• Don’t even try to wear anything with a heel. You may think it’s a good idea because they tie the whole outfit together but they will not be kind to your feet. Who wants to be restricted when dancing at a festival?
• Don’t wear anything too tight or bright. Neon was for Year 6 parties – it’s no longer acceptable at a festival.
• Don’t overdo the UV paint. This is where the catchphrase ‘Less is more’ comes into play. We can appreciate the dots under the eyes but don’t dip your whole body in it.
• Don’t get outfits out of the dressing up box. Fancy dress is just not what a festival is about nowadays. You could get away with a novelty hat at a push.

Of course, festivals aren’t just about fashion. The festival industry is vibrant and exciting, and there’s a world of roles within music and media, just ready and waiting for you to dive into. Got a passion that you want to turn into a career in festivals? We’ve got a course for you. Find out more about what we can offer you here.

You can also come down and meet us in person at one of our upcoming open events. Get signed up here.

Earlier this year, four local Bristol creatives embarked on a 12 week tech scholarship, learning how to bring live events to virtual spaces. The scholarship, the result of a partnership between Access Creative College (ACC), local technology startup Condense and venture capital fund LocalGlobe offered a unique curriculum taking in 3D modelling, VFX, virtual worlds and more. The scholarship, (applications open again from now until September) for a second round, is aimed at widening diversity within the tech industry by focusing on recruiting women and people of colour; groups that are heavily underrepresented in the sector.

The first run of the scholarship was hugely successful, with one of the scholars, Olivia, receiving a role at Condense upon completion of the course. Bristol based Olivia, 24, now works as an Account Manager at the company.

“When I first saw the Condense Scholarship, I was instantly excited about the opportunity of being taught something that felt so futuristic and groundbreaking that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn otherwise. I’ve been interested in the tech industry for years but after finishing my Psychology Degree, I wasn’t sure how I could get into the industry without paying for another course. As someone who is passionate about psychology, I was interested in how this new advancement in technology would impact our society. I knew that participating in the Condense Scholarship would allow me to broaden my horizons, learn some incredible new skills, and contribute to shaping the future.

The scholarship empowers individuals from under-represented backgrounds to learn new technical skills. By utilising different perspectives, it broadens the scope for creativity. When new perspectives and experiences are introduced, it opens the doors to groundbreaking advancements as well as meaningful societal impact.”

Olivia and her fellow scholars were selected from a pool of more than 50 applicants, based on their passion and engagement, as much as their knowledge and skills. The tech industry is competitive, and to succeed it’s important to be engaged in what’s happening.

“I went into the scholarship eager to learn as much as I could and thanks to our brilliant lecturers, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned in a short space of time. I did a fair amount of research on Condense, including following them on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube to see what they were creating. I also read lots of articles written about the company with their upcoming events and advancements in the live streaming of volumetric video. Condense’s cutting-edge innovation positions me as a well-rounded candidate for many roles within the industry.”

To create their live events in virtual spaces, the scholars used Condense’s custom virtual spaces rig, as well 3D modelling software like Unity and the latest industry standard equipment including virtual reality headsets and collaborative platforms in bespoke labs at ACC Bristol. At the end of the twelve week programme, Olivia was offered an Accounts Manager role at Condense.

“I am delighted to have been offered the role of Accounts Manager at Condense following the completion of the scholarship. As part of my role, I will serve as a crucial link between clients and the Studio 5 team, collaborating to bring their virtual reality venue and event ideas to life. This involves understanding clients’ preferences and translating their visions into immersive experiences.

I love that this technology brings people together, whether that’s providing opportunities to people with disabilities, social anxiety, loved ones in different locations and/or time zones, and those who couldn’t usually afford to see their favourite artists live. Working for Condense, I am surrounded by many talented people who share that drive to connect people. Everyone is very enthusiastic to share their knowledge and I’m really excited to learn from them and continue improving my skills in creating these unique immersive experiences.”

The Condense scholarship reopened for applications on 1st July 2023 with the aim of continuing to drive diversity in the sector and provide more trained staff to local tech employers. Olivia’s advice for anyone interested in applying is to research and experiment with existing tools.

“I can honestly say that everyone interested should apply. As long as you put in the time and effort to learn then you’ll get out of it as much as you put in. Dive into research, engage in online communities, attend virtual events, and experiment with free tools like Blender and Unity. Building a strong foundation of knowledge and skills will pave the way for creativity. Additionally, seek out mentors and surround yourself with like-minded individuals with an interest to learn more. During the scholarship, we all had very different styles and our final projects all looked very different. This meant that we had diverse skill sets within 3D modelling, texturing, Unity etc. that we could share with each other which really improved our projects.”

Applications for the next round of the Condense scholarship opened on July 1st 2023, with a proposed start date of October 2023. All applications from  Bristol residents over the age of 19 are welcome, with applications particularly encouraged from people from minority backgrounds and women. To find out more and apply, visit accesscreative.ac.uk/campaign/condense-scholarship.

It’s that time of year again. Festival season is here! We’re super excited to get back in the fields, taking in some of the country’s best new and established artists.

Our calendar is already filling up, so we wanted to take a moment to let you know where you can find us this summer and take a deep dive into why we love UK festivals.

Festivals have been a key part of the ACC landscape for a long time. Since our first festival partnership, back in 2011, we’ve worked with some of the biggest industry names including Slam Dunk, Wild Paths, Latitude, Love Saves the Day, Download and more. 

Working with festivals has so many benefits. From giving our students a platform to perform, and (for some) their first chance to showcase their artistry to a large audience, to offering exclusive, hands-on experience of what it takes to run an event of this size through our work experience programmes. The skills that our students learn from these events are invaluable, inspiring and set them up for success.

“Being selected to perform at Latitude Festival was a huge opportunity for me. Not only did I get to meet other incredibly talented ACC artists from the other colleges, I gained performance experience outside of my hometown. Being able to promote my involvement with the festival has given me content for my social media channels and has helped boost my portfolio.”

Jordan Phillips former AD4 Manchester student

Our festival partnerships are also valuable for the events we work with, and the wider industry. We’re lucky to be able to provide the festival industry with a constant flow of fresh talent, already equipped to take to the stage and put on a great show or muck in and help the team, bringing knowledge they’ve learned on our courses. The students that come through our doors today are the festival teams and acts of tomorrow, and that ecosystem is crucial to the future of the sector.

Which festivals will we be at?

Our involvement with festivals began as a partnership with the renowned, Suffolk-based Latitude Festival, and we are excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with them again this year (the 13th year running!)

We’ll be taking over The Inbetweeners stage again to showcase emerging talent. Previous performers such as Let’s Eat Grandma, Ed Sheeran, Mulally and Bessie Turner have progressed to the festival’s larger stages over the years, so we highly recommend stopping by. 

Latitude hits Henham Park from 20th – 23rd July 2023.

The festival buzz is coming to Bristol

Bristol has a jam packed schedule this festival season and ACC students will be heading to the likes of Love Saves the Day, Forwards and Harbour Festival and Tokyo World to get involved behind the scenes as Artist Liaison, crew and so much more. 

Charlie Grier, Marketing & Events Officer in Bristol has been heavily involved in festival initiatives in the city and as a long standing festival fiend, he knows a thing or two when it comes to providing the best work experience opportunities for our young people.

‘We really can’t wait to get festival season underway this year, we will all be back in a sunny field with good company and great music in no time. 

At this time of year, we start to remember the tribal-like energy of crowds of people dancing, eating and camping together, the delicious food and drinks, and the performances & production that all combine to create a unique, exciting and unforgettable experience.

Festivals are more than just an opportunity to see your favourite artists perform live; they’re a chance to fully immerse yourself in the music and culture. The atmosphere creates a sense of community and connection between festival-goers, as we make new friends and lifelong memories.

Working with festivals in the local area is an excellent opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience. Not only do they get a chance to learn new skills and develop their professional networks, but they also get to be a part of the excitement and energy of these events. By collaborating with festivals, we can provide students with real-world experiences that are both fun and educational.

Festivals often require a large number of staff and volunteers, creating a diverse range of opportunities for students to get involved in areas such as event planning, marketing, production, logistics, hospitality and customer service. Such collaborations are mutually beneficial, as festivals get the necessary help, and students gain practical knowledge that can boost their career prospects.’

One of the Bristol students Charlie has helped is Cristy Taviner. The work she carried out across Bristol festivals has since seen her gain roles with Festival Republic!

‘During both my years at Access Creative College, I took part in lots of different activities outside of class hours organised by the college. My biggest memory is volunteering as part of the Artist Liaison Team at Love Saves the Day 2017.

It was my first major insight into the behind the scenes of how a festival is run. Working with the Artist Liaison team allowed me to understand what the artist would need when they came to site, I would be there to greet them, show them around, make sure their dressing room and rider was in place and up to scratch. Through this I was building up my problem-solving skills. I would ensure the stage manager was aware they were onsite and introduce them to the relevant people to ensure a smooth and successful running of the show. 

Tokyo World 2019 was another day festival I volunteered at through ACC. I have since kept in contact with both of these businesses throughout the years, I still work as part of the Artist Liaison team for Tokyo World and have now moved on to working as part of the Artist Acred Team for Love Saves The Day & Forwards Festival; in 2022 I was the Artist Acred Assistant and this year I am the Artist Accreditation Manager. 

Adding this all to my CV helped me gain roles as part of Festival Republic who I worked with for two seasons across Finsbury Park Events including Sam Fender, Community Festival and George Ezra and Reading Festival.’

New names for 2023!

We’ve also got some firsts this festival season. 

In October, we’re attending Beyond The Music, a brand new music conference in Manchester. Founded by Oli Wilson, the son of Manchester legend Tony Wilson, Beyond the Music aims to create a global forum for the music industry. The event brings together the best in artists, creatives and professionals in tech, AV, gaming, brands, literature and music to build a “to solve the issues faced by the industry today and produce innovative models for the future”.

In August, we’ll also be making our debut at Green Man Festival in Wales.

Einstein’s Garden is Green Man’s area for creative engagement with science, nature and technology. Each year, the festival curates a line up fusing performance, art, music and research in wonderful and wacky ways.

Our students will be given the opportunity to apply to perform on the festival’s Solar Stage and also offered work experience in organisational roles. This is our first Welsh festival, and we can’t wait!

How we’ve helped students through our festivals initiative

We caught up with Norwich students, Immy and Juliet who have taken full advantage of getting involved with our festival initiatives having worked in voluntary roles with KISSTORY, Wild Paths and Latitude. 

‘Since my involvement with KISSTORY in 2022, I’ve been having regular meetings to discuss what I’ve been up to in my events and music career which has led me to be part of the planning and the behind the scenes of KISSTORY 2023!’

‘Due to the involvement in ACC Norwich Festivals myself and my course friend Immy were given the opportunity to volunteer at Boomtown Festival. The role was a Site Mark Out Assistant. We arrived at the first week of the build to work directly with the Director and managers of Boomtown!

‘I have gained multiple opportunities through Access over the years but some key moments for me would be, landing an artist liaison role for KISSTORY Norwich in 2022. Myself and another student, Juliet, were lucky enough to work very closely with the event director and their team. Through this we have gained some incredible contacts and have been asked to work on 3 more of their events. London, Bristol and Norwich 2023!’

Quotes from Imogen Sawyer and Juliet Price, AD4 Norwich

Imogen has been so inspired by live events that she has founded her own company, MIDSUMMER which has held seven events thus far.

‘I’m working continuously behind the scenes on multiple projects. My next event is in HMV Norwich (22nd April)  followed by another event at a venue called Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom on the 26th of April and an event in London next month at the Camden Club London on the 26th May.’

‘I’m also running a stage at Latitude this year along with a stage at the First Light Festival (In collaboration with ACC).’

‘So you can see the domino effect this has all had on my life. Access continues to support my goals and present to me any opportunities that come my way!’

‘ACC provided us with some incredible young talent to take part in a work experience initiative with KISSTORY in 2022. The level of ambition and initiative from the students was second to none and it’s clear to see how the college combines theory work with industry experience. I can see that the students will go onto huge things!’

Lee Warren, Events Director of Bauer Media

Bringing you the highlights

As always, our team will be heading down to the fields to bring you exclusive interviews, behind the scenes tours and other surprises (more to be revealed soon). If you see us at a festival, come and say hi! 

And there’s still more announcements to come from this year’s festival season. Watch this space for more info very soon! 

And that’s just the start! 

We’ve got so much more planned. Make sure that you keep an eye on our socials and blog for all festival announcements!

Check out our full list of festival partners!

We sat down with Benj to discuss his new single, B!ngo!, currently in the running for UK Christmas Number One, how he found his time at ACC and why he’s championing bingo as an activity for a new generation.

Hi Benj, when, where and what did you study with us?

I studied at ACC Birmingham from 2010-2012. I completed the Performing Musician Level 3 Extended Diploma. The course allowed me to understand that it is possible for you to make a career in the music industry in multiple ways and performing is just one of the fun, practical ones.

What first got you into bingo, and how does it feel to be ‘National Bingo Game Caller of the Year’?

I started bingo calling while I was searching for a music venue position after the pandemic. I came across an ad online that said “Show Host wanted” but didn’t go into much detail. When I turned up for the interview I found myself in a bingo hall. Being both the National Bingo Game Caller of the Year and Mecca Bingo’s Caller of the Year is a massive motivational boost. To think that the bingo industry sees me as an ambassador and the music industry accepts my song shows that if you’re true to yourself and consistent, great things can happen.

You’ve released a single, B!ngo!, with Mecca’s support, how has your time at ACC helped you develop the song?

One of the first things ACC teaches you is to “identify your target audience and give them something they want”. I collaborated with a massive company because it fit their target audience. We are going for Christmas number one with the song.

There are many ways to be successful in the music industry and collaboration is just one of them. Understanding the industry and where you fit within it is important.

What made you want to write and release the song?

I wrote this song after working in a bingo hall for a few weeks. The atmosphere in the hall was great, the people were happy. I hadn’t known bingo catered for all ages. I thought it was just for grannies and pops but I saw people coming in for first dates, group parties, etc. I wanted to find a way to change the perception of what bingo is.

What has the response been like to the single?

Everyone has been very supportive. I was asked to appear on ITV This Morning, Heart FM & BBC West Midlands to talk about the song, with more planned. Using the skills I learned from ACC has played a big part in the song’s success.

If you got Christmas Number One, what would that mean for you and your career?

Getting Christmas number one would be a dream come true. Just thinking how many people actually like the music I make would warm my soul. It would be amazing to know that I have added a positive feeling to that many people’s day.

Do you have any highlights from your time at ACC?

I loved our trip to Sound City, Liverpool. We experienced artists and bands performing many different genres, all over the city. I also enjoyed the workshops at ACC including PRS coming in to explain what they do or popular artists explaining how they made their product work.

Are you still in touch with any of your ACC coursemates?

I created friendships with other artists and musicians there that have proven to be great music industry assets to me, as well as supporting me in my day to day life. Having someone you trust who knows what it’s like within the music industry is a massive support.

What else have you got planned for the future? 

I’m releasing another single soon and planning a UK tour. The goal is to change people’s perception of bingo and entertain with my music. I have two years as ambassador and I hope to bring a new crowd of people to Mecca.

Listen to B!ngo! By BingooBenj right here. 

You can also find Benj on every social media platform under the name @BingooBenj.