NEW GEN 24 RECAP

The festival site had a villagey atmosphere with people in the afternoon gathering around areas like the Mind Zone for yoga and sign dance, as well as having a go at the Brentford FC football & sports challenges. It was also great to see that visitors of all ages participated in playing steel pans with True Steel Band. While some relaxed on the grass to catch the spoken word and music on the West Stage, others filled up the Main Stage big top in anticipation of the festival’s headliners. 

Arcain, who performed at the peak of day on the Main Stage, captured the energy by saying: ‘Playing at New Gen is an experience of a lifetime. And I’ve done it twice! The atmosphere was electric and being up on stage with my friends performing music that we have created is an indescribable feeling.’

The Mind Zone was also a busy spot, with mindfulness activities and stalls from groups supporting young people with additional needs. One of the parent volunteers from Include Me told us, ‘people […] had great fun with the sound beam, they thought it was amazing. I met a lot of lovely people and some that I knew, which was great [and] my daughter loved the sound beam, she was fascinated.’

The West Stage producer was truly satisfied with the outcome, saying: ‘The atmosphere on the West Stage this year was amazing. One of the things that really stood out to me was how inclusive the stage felt—it brought together such a diverse range of performers and audience members, creating a truly welcoming environment. Even with the tight turnaround between acts, we, as a team, pulled everything off smoothly, making sure each performance transitioned seamlessly and we stayed right on schedule. It really showed how much effort and careful planning everyone put in.’

And that is it! This year is officially wrapped up and the organisers are left with valuable experience and insights on how to make sure everybody has a great time. I don’t know about you, but I already cannot wait for next year…