by Richard King
For the last eight years Caught by the River has established a reputation as a curator of unique outdoor experiences at many of the country’s finest festivals and events.
Whether as a member of the audience or performer, time spent at the Caught by the River stage is always reflective, entertaining and highly convivial, as the site’s spirit of enquiry and appreciation becomes a personable community of like minds and animated souls sharing the hours together.
This year, for the first time, Caught by the River have decided to host their own bespoke outdoors event. The location they have chosen, fforest Camp near Cardigan, West Wales, is suitably dramatic, peaceful and individual. The festival happens in two halves.
The first half of Caught by the River Teifi is an invitation to spend four days in an environment rich in meadows, woodland, Welsh slate and exceptional good times and a chance also to participate in a bespoke cultural ecosystem of talks, films, readings, late evening DJ sessions and fireside tales.
A programme of relaxed outdoor activity is provided to ensure the secluded location is experienced in full: from swimming deep within the gorge of the free flowing Teifi, to kayaking along its banks, from walks to nearby isolated and unchanged rural pubs to foraging in the surrounding fields and hedgerow.
By day there are opportunities to learn about fly tying, bread making, woodcarving and creative writing. Rob St John will host a sound workshop and sessions covering illustration, bird spotting and printmaking are led by friends and website contributors like Matt Sewell, Pete Fowler and Nick Hand.
By night around the communal fire pits there will be anecdotes and reflections, the giant tipi will run a film programme and the abandoned quarry will provide a perfect outdoors dancehall.
And of great significance is fforest Camp’s 19th on-site pub, the Bwthyn, a place rich in history, atmosphere and excellent ales and ciders brewed in the surrounding hills.
Caught By The River Teifi at fforest Camp is set to be an immersive four days like no other, a space for learning, celebrating and relaxing, a highly civilised party in the woods. A place as well, for withdrawing, wandering and wondering in the privacy of the natural world.
If you’re interested in coming, there’s a huge variety of accommodation options available on the festival website – you’ll find a full line-up for events happening in the nearby River’s Edge venue the following weekend on there too. Hope to see you there.