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'I went to Beat-Herder festival where Gok Wan performed a legendary DJ set in the woods'

The annual Beat-Herder music festival took place in Lancashire's Ribble Valley earlier in July. It was muddier than usual but no less fun with plenty of surprises

[Beat-Herder was a muddy affair this year]

Beat-Herder was a muddy affair this year

Every year, the sun shines graciously at Beat-Herder lighting up the forests and hills that form the party paradise nestled within the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.

This year was slightly different. The clouds looked dark and menacing and the poncho sellers made a fortune.

However, the rain drops had zero impact on this dance music utopia the records still played, the waltzers spun faster than ever and the mud just added to the musical mayhem.

READ MORE: Teddy Swims Review: Uber charming face-tattooed human jukebox fired love into London

Here are the things that we loved

Gok Wan in the Toil Trees

[Gok Wan performed the set of the weekend]

Gok Wan performed the set of the weekend

For a guy who is perhaps best known for telling people how to look good naked Gok Wan is one hell of a DJ and put in a legendary Beat-Herder shift in the Toil Trees. Spinning anthems such as Bizarre Incs Playing With Knives, Underworlds Born Slippy and Robert Miles Children, thousands enjoyed his electrical energy amongst the woodland euphoria and joined him dancing (not naked) in the rain.

Paul Barrett AKA Baz in The Factory

[Burnley DJ Paul Barrett smashed it through the storm]

Burnley DJ Paul Barrett smashed it through the storm

Local hero and Burnley clubbing promoter Paul Barrett AKA Baz delivered one of the weekends stand out sets in The Factory. Packed to the rafters, deep down and dirty, Baz ensured that Saturday night was as wild inside as the weather was outside and all whilst sporting his retro Burnley F.C. shirt. Top set Baz you had everyone bouncing.

The Fortress

[The Fortress stage is like no other]

The Fortress stage is like no other

The Fortress is the pulsating heart of Beat-Herder with fire flames roaring out of all four turrets this is where the true soldiers of sound come to battle with the beats and misdemeanour. This year, local lad Dave Heaton impressed and ensured that the Fortress was rocking early on the Friday afternoon; DJ Falcon and Thomas Bangalters So Much Love to Give being one of the highlights. Sunday night saw the arrival of old skool legends Slipmatt, Seb Fontaine and Tall Paul all three were pivotal in tearing the place apart for the grand Sunday night finale.

The Beat-Herder Parish Church

[The Parish Church a party on a biblical scale]

The Parish Church a party on a biblical scale

The Church is where the most religious of Beat-Herders revellers come to repent their sins and indulge in many more. A tiny venue in size but massive in personality, The Church had scouse nuns walking around asking for single women, Sister Sammy delivering her Tea-time disco hymns and Bongo Dave smashing out tribal beats with his bare hands in harmony to Madonnas Like a Prayer.

This is the place to come if youre looking for a one way ticket to hedonistic heaven.

Feeona The Lost Snail lady selling hand-painted T-shirts

For the first time ever, Beat-Herder held its very own snail hunt. Instigated by Feona, the blonde lady selling hand painted T-shirts in the street across from Hotel California, intoxicated participants were hell bent on finding the lost snail after all, who could resist the lucrative reward of snailbrows painted on your face? We saw people hunting around bins, searching through the trees and scouring around the scrap cars - all in the hope of finding the illusive lost snail.

Gay Paris @ Julies Barn

[Gay Paris a musical cave which is very hard to leave]

Gay Paris a musical cave which is very hard to leave(Image: Andrew Whitton/Giles Smith)

Sneak through a tiny crack in the rocks, go down the pitch black corridor and enter the labyrinth world of Gay Paris essentially a disco cave kitted out with a flashing dance floor, a barrage of colour and a fully charged crowd. This is a once in a lifetime chance to visit a psychedelic Narnia where anything goes glitter balls, gardens of Eden and good good vibes.

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