The wondrous world of Houghton. Where to begin ?
Simply put: it gets better and better. Since 2018 we’ve reported on this magical place and every time we go, we leave feeling like that was the best edition yet.
So no surprise then, that 2025 was no different. Once again it was the best year yet.
Our favourtie stage, The Pavillion, received an upgrade. Rigs were set high against the treeline, towards the middle of the dancefloor, creating a depth to the sound that wasn’t previously experienced. It wasn’t bad before by any means, but this was a noticeable improvement. Check one chap’s personal account of Francesco Del Garda below.
Ogazon and Samuel Deep had standout performances there, as did Manfredas. We’d seen the Dresden co-pilot on bills before though we were yet to see him play live. Crikey was it good and certainly a highlight of the weekend.
The Earthling deserves a mention also. A close second in terms of our favourite Houghton stage – not that it’s about favourites of course. It sits next to The Pavillion, where a tree-lined path connects both areas. We’d written about Harry McCanna and co there previously, and how good that was, but Zip was in the driving seat this year. Edward set the scene before him, as the two Perlon mainstays unleashed eight hours of shadowy, unadulterated minimal.
Sugar Free at Tantrum was another highlight, a set that can only be described as vicious by the time we arrived. This was no nonsense territory, thick and fast, and brutal in its delivery. Whip-like and acid-tinged, it was an amazing pick-me-up for us having spent hours in the woods previously.
Chris Levine’s art installation was a lovely touch this year also. It made wandering around the lake that much more intriguing, as laser beams pierced the night sky with a poignant inflection. The featured image at the top says it all. It accentuated our starry-eyed meandering, further reminding us just how special this pocket of Norfolk woodland really is.
On which note, we always leave Houghton with a grounded-ness. A oneness, a feeling of internal calm and stillness.
Perhaps it’s the trees. Or the lake. Or the secludedness of this natural retreat. Maybe it’s how this small slice of bucolic British countryside acts as a safe haven for likeminded music enthusiasts. A refuge for those who want to enjoy a weekend away from the business of everyday life. No signal, no service. Just nature, art, music and good company.
For us, the music plays a massive part in what makes this weekend so special. So for first time readers, the performances are what truly sets this festival apart. The DJs, the stages and the sound quality. It’s addictive, unctuous almost, with everything feeling and sounding just so damn good.
Then there’s the uniqueness of the setting and the near faultless operational capabilities. Queues are kept to a minimum, be it for the bars, toilets or stages, whilst the opportunities to lose yourself in Houghton’s various woods and verges are endless.
Exciting and nourishing in equal measure, the days and nights flow into each other headily at Houghton. Headily and steadily, from Thursday to Monday morning, resulting in a picture-perfect weekend each and every time.
Thank you once again Craig.
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Photo Credit: Khroma Collective.
Houghton 2026 will take place at Houghton Hall, Kings Lynn, sometime in August. Tickets will be available here via the Houghton Festival website.