Monday 14th until Friday 18th June 2010 @ Pembrey Country Park, South Wales
Featuring Performances From: Plan B, Vampire Weekend, Ellie Goulding, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, The Futureheads, I Blame Coco, Calvin Harris, Beardyman, Chase And Status, Annie Mac, Scratch Perverts

Beach Break Live, founded by Celia Norowzian and her boyfriend Ian Forshew three years ago, has become the UK’s largest student festival, growing from a mere 1,000 students in its first year to welcoming 17,500 students to its new location in Pembrey Country Park in South Wales this June.

With a 7 mile stretch of sandy beach recognised to be amongst Europe’s most beautiful within walking distance of the main arena and campsite, as well as over 2000 acres of stunning forestry surrounding the festival site, the new and permanent home of Beach Break Live answered every student’s prayers of a dream location where they could put their recently completed exams behind them and get ready for the summer ahead.

With past acts having graced the stages of Beach Break including The Cribs, Dizzee Rascal and Friendly Fires, this year’s line-up boasted the likes of Plan B, Vampire Weekend and Ellie Goulding. The three days and nights of music were kicked off by Beach Break veterans Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip. Despite their set being almost identical to that of previous years (including recycled props from Beach Breaks gone by), a couple of new songs were thrown into the mix and the crowd embraced their unique brand of humour as the sun set on the first day. Plan B and The Futureheads proved equally as popular with the crowd but none could top the awe that Vampire Weekend inspired as headliners. Their pitch perfect and infectiously summery tunes such as Holiday and Cousins were undoubtedly a highlight of the festival.

During the festival’s second day, the mid-afternoon shift on the main stage was manned by newcomers I Blame Coco; Coco Sumner’s ethereal vocals provided the perfect soundtrack to wandering students discovering the hidden gems Beach Break had to offer.

When a Beach Breaker isn’t lounging on the grass as the front of the main stage, sunbathing on the nearby beach or drinking warm ciders back at camp, they can be found occupied by various activities: Some relaxing, such as vintage clothes and jewellery shopping, fish therapy and massages available in Lost Gardens area, to those that are a little more active like making sand sculptures, participating in street theatre and paint fighting. Other free activities such as fat suit assault courses and pole dancing workshops provide ample amounts of comedy value for your dollar. In the evening the focus is back on the music as Ellie Goulding’s light voice in Starry Eyed is carried perfectly by the fading light. Calvin Harris follows as the second day’s main headliner, throwing down beats which could get the most hungover of students fighting their way to the front.

After final night performances on the main stage by an incredibly entertaining Beardyman and energetic production duo Chase And Status, the throngs of students were not done with their dubstep and preceded in their masses to Merlin’s Forest dance tent where Annie Mac and Scratch Perverts topped of a scorching festival with a bit more sweat.

Beach Break Live 2010 provided the utmost any festival goer can hope for; perfect weather, an amazing setting, great vibe but most importantly a food stall dedicated to mash potato.

www.beachbreaklive.com

Shazia Khawaja
Photos by Laura Palmer