Do you touch your boobs enough? A couple of weeks ago I went to a festival that encourages you to do just that…”cop a feel”… sounds like most boys fantasy, but it could actually save your life!
The weather wasn’t entirely on our side but that didn’t dampen our spirits as this was an indoor festival, so we ditched the coats and wellies and made our way to Islington Metal Works.
Festifeel is a single day music festival, which kicks off the Summer Boob Tour for organisers Coppafeel, as they begin attending the festivals in order to raise awareness of breast cancer.
This was my first year there, but the fourth year of the festival and from what I heard 2013 was bigger and better than ever before. The old Victorian factory, with its three rooms, was a new venue for the growing festival which is curated by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton.
Despite the fact that the festival is growing, it is still on a small scale, especially compared to your typical festivals such as Glastonbury, and as a result it felt very intimate. Fearne Cotton wandered the rooms, watching the bands with us ‘normal’ folk as did many of the artists. It created a much closer connection between the audience and the artists and provided an opportunity to find new bands and meet your favourites.
Live bands performed on the main stage, with a smaller room for acoustic and DJ sets – which included Radio 1’s Gemma Cairney and Mistajam. A middle room offered oodles of booby fun with food including boob shaped lollies, drink, glittery face painting and vintage stalls selling funky jewellery and clothes. Meanwhile the décor provided a constant reminder so as not to forget the real reason for being there, including a very cool huge BOOB light sign. Plus the acts made reference to checking your boobs and sported the Coppafeel stickers.
A fabulous musical line-up was comprised of up and coming artists, along with some well-known names, such as Gabrielle Aplin who recently had her first number one with the Power of Love. She took to the main stage with her guitar and sang a selection of great songs including the sensational Please Don’t Say You Love Me and Panic Cord. Then Fearne joined the crowd to watch her good friend and the former X-Factor contestant Kye Sones in the acoustic room. Mid-song Kye held out his microphone as he headed into the audience straight towards my friend, but to my disappointment and her relief she wasn’t chosen to sing.
Coppafeel aims to educate young people on the importance of checking their boobs and knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. It was set up by the beautiful and courageous Kristin Hallenga, who in 2009 at the age of 23 was told she was too young to get breast cancer and as a result was diagnosed too late and it is now incurable. Ever since she has worked tirelessly to encourage young girls to check their boobs and be aware cancer can strike at any age. Fearne and Kris took to the stage as the evening began to draw to a close and gave a passionate and emotional speech before introducing Maverick Sabre, who sang some of his top hits including I Need.
Festifeel is different to other festivals, but I predict big things for it! I don’t doubt in a few years time it could be on the same scale as bigger music festivals which will be fantastic for raising awareness, but actually would be a shame to lose the intimacy that Festifeel currently offers.
At £25 a ticket you can’t complain for the experience you get and knowing where that money is going. Festifeel is a fun event for a wonderful cause and I can’t wait to go again next year. As Coppafeel say “knowing your boobs could save your life” so in the meantime… I’ll be copping a feel!
