Interview: Y Not Festival 2017

Now in its twelfth year, Derbyshire’s largest music festival Y Not (27-30 July) returns with an huge line-up of acts over many stages.

We interview festival director Simon Mawbey as he speaks about booking headliner acts and what makes Y Not stand out amongst a packed summer of British festivals.

Y Not has an incredibly diverse line-up that spans several genres, where do you start when it comes to booking acts?

We do tend to start at the top, simply because those artists are the most challenging to book. Also once you know who your headliners are, you have a much better understanding of where you can head with the rest of the bill, what you might need or not need to create the right balance across the board.

There’s now more festivals than ever before, what makes Y Not stand out from the crowd?

With Y Not we just tried to create something fun and honest. People come to Y Not to have a great time for the weekend, it’s no more complicated than that. I think we’ve stuck to that and people have responded well to it.

Who are you personally excited about seeing on this year’s line-up?

There’s quite a few small bands on some of the smaller stages I’d like to catch if I get time. Crows are a band I’ve not seen live yet but I really like, I’d also like to see Honeyblood. I do think Two Door Cinema Club will be a lot of fun.

If you could choose any act alive or dead to play, who would it be?

The Rolling Stones. I think they’re alive

What impressed us most last year was the stage design, it seemed like you made a great effort to give the site a unique feel. Any spoilers for this year?

We’ll just be trying to refine things a little, make the site smoother and easier for people. There will be one or two surprises but I’ll keep those to myself for now.

Bringing the spectacular Peak District countryside to life from 27-30 July, Y Not has grown significantly over the years to encompass dozens of stages and a huge variety of musical styles. Complete with stunning panoramic views, a fully stocked bar of local ales and ciders, a mouth-watering selection of food and more live music than you could ever possibly take in, Y Not is a firm favourite in the festival calendar for those in the know.

With only a limited amount of tickets remaining, this year’s festival is on track to sell out faster than ever before. Priced at £114.50 (inc. booking fee) for adults (Children aged 12 and under go free), purchase now, from the festival’s official website.