Page 56 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

HOLY ISLAND MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL

SATURDAY 24TH JULY

LINE UP FEATURING: ALNWICK ACOUSTICS, SEAGLASS, DJ DR FIZZ, ISLAND FOLK, THE DUNELM DRUMMERS

SUMMER STARTS HERE!

Chapter 31

The beat of the music was pounding through Lucy. The bounce of the crowd, a thousand strong, pulsing through the very earth under her feet, as they sang along at the tops of their voices. Flags swayed in rainbow colours against a summer-blue sky as dry ice smoked and drifted from the stage. It was moving and rather magical. The music festival at Holy Island was in full and fabulous swing.

Lucy had only ever been to one festival before today: Leeds Fest, along with Becky, when they were just seventeen. That had been crazy but fun; a weekend of dancing, drinking, wellies stuck in the mud, sunshine and rain, laughter, and very little sleep, chatting with complete strangers (one, she remembered, dressed as a Smurf with a blue-painted face, yet no-one batted an eyelid), taking Lucy way out of her steady comfort zone. The two girls had laughed about it so much, since. But festivals became a thing of the past when she met Liam. His idea of camping was much more civilised; not spending a weekend in some cramped field with music pounding and a load of sweaty revellers.

The bands today had been fantastic so far – a great mix of music. And though some weren’t to Lucy’s usual taste – being more of a Coldplay, The 1975, and nostalgic soft-rock fan herself – she’d understood that every performer had given it their all, and the local folk music was surprisingly fabulous. From her catering spot at the rear of the main stage field, along with several other eateries, she’d been able to take in the whole scene.

Lucy knew that Jack was there – she’d spotted the familiar gleam of red paintwork as he’d arrived, which had sent her stomach into an odd lurch. It was Jack who’d told her to try for a pitch, giving her and All Fired Up a leg-up again. He’d messaged her on Facebook about it and, although she knew it was cowardly, taking advantage of his generous business advice whilst staying silent, Lucy couldn’t quite bring herself to reply after their last interaction.

She stepped down from the horsebox and shaded her eyes from the fierce sun, peering towards Ruby who was parked on the lower field. She sighed and just took in the vista of the festival for a moment; feeling the pulse of the music vibrating through her, the energy of the crowds and the bright sun casting everything in a golden glow.

Once the July evening kicked in – the summer sun still high in the sky, piercing through the pewter-blue expanse – the colourful stage lights came into their own. With yet more flags and huge banners swaying amongst the crowd, the sing-along chant of their responses ringing in the air, the atmosphere was electric, charged with a warm, fun, festival vibe. The weather had stayed fair, thankfully for the participants, though the forecast for later that evening looked pretty horrendous, with warnings of a summer storm heading their way. Hopefully, Lucy mused, she’d be packed up and well away by then.

The food was smelling so good all around her. Lucy had been on the go, along with her brilliant side-kick, Abby, ever since they’d got there at 10 a.m., quickly setting up, and then delivering a constant supply of freshly-cooked pizzas for the ever-hungry crowd. It was now past 7 p.m. and she found herself craving one of Bob’s gourmet burgers, having been parked beside his van with the smell of cooked beef and fried onions tantalising her tastebuds for hours. She might well have to nip over there, and buy her and Abby a burger. Which flavour to go for, was the magic question? Chilli burger, blue cheese and caramelised onion, bacon double decker? Honestly, his chalkboard menu was mouth-wateringly good.

Lucy was aware that Abby needed to get away sharpish, as she had a friend’s 21st birthday party to head to. Abby’s apologetic call had come a week ago: ‘Sorry Luce, I can definitely work the festival day, but I’ve got a close friend’s birthday party the same night. Don’t panic. I won’t let you down. And I love working with you.’

Lucy was cheered by that part, at least.

‘And, it’s a great chance to get into the festival for free,’ Abby had confessed, ‘Look, the real fun won’t start at the party ’til ten-ish anyhow, so how about I work the festival ’til around nine thirty? Would that work?’

Lucy didn’t have a lot of options, but imagined the bulk of the food orders would have happened before the girl’s planned departure, as they were booked to start serving from midday. Extremely grateful for Abby’s help, Lucy was pretty sure she could manage fine for the last couple of hours by herself. Yes, it would be busy, but hey ho, busy was good. Busy meant lots of paying customers and money rolling in.

Abby stayed firmly by her side until twenty to ten, when there was a lull with the crowd as the main act was coming on. The young girl then slipped away, leaving Lucy to tend to her toppings and stoke her oven single-handedly with her feet tapping away to the music all the while. The crowd were now swaying en masse and singing at the tops of their voices. Lucy found herself joining in, humming away, feeling work-tired but happy. With more bookings on the horizon, and a festival under her belt, her pizza venture was finally finding its feet – foot-tappingly so – and she was sure her Papa would be very proud of her.

Of course, after the concert wrapped up, there was another run of hungry customers getting the midnight munchies! Most were staying over in an array of tents and campervans that were positioned in the next field along, so there was no real rush for the revellers to be getting away. Make hay while the sun shines and all that, Lucy thought to herself as she kept up with the throng. She served out her last pizza to a chap in a now-wonky horned Viking helmet at 12:30 a.m. Wow, what a day!

It wasn’t long before Jack wandered over, having finished serving himself. Lucy felt her heart rate rise rapidly, followed by a pounding in her chest. She only had to be polite, she reminded herself.

Jack looked a little awkward. Were memories of their last chat, after the anniversary do, on his mind too?

‘That kept us going, didn’t it,’ he said, wiping his damp brow a little nervously.

‘Ha, yes, it did indeed,’ she replied, unable to look anywhere but at her muddy feet.

A moment’s silence stretched between them, thankfully diffused by the sound of the lingering crowds.

‘So, good night for you? You looked damned busy.’

‘Amazing, yeah. Look, thank you for recommending this, Jack … putting a word in for me. It’s been my best event yet … by far. Haven’t managed to count all the takings yet, but boy, I’ve sold out of everything, and I’d brought absolutely loads with me, just in case. Phew.’ Lucy suddenly found herself feeling shattered, the adrenaline buzz of the festival leaving her veins.

‘You look knackered, Lucy.’

‘Ah, thanks!’ Whatever happened to Jack the charmer, hey?

‘No, really, you look tired out.’ He looked genuinely concerned.

‘Look, I’m fine,’ she said, brushing it off, not wanting to admit to Jack she did actually feel a bit light-headed now.

‘Here, have a seat a mo,’ he continued. ‘I’ll go grab you a Coke or something from the campervan, to pep you up.’