Nestled in the rolling Bedfordshire landscape lies the picturesque Tofte Manor home of the intriguingly named Labyrinth Festival. As we drove down a seemingly endless country lane, our minds filled with visions of minotaurs and spiritual legends until we were finally directed by very polite festival helpers to park in a field. We had arrived.
What greeted us was the enticing sound of drums floating across the breeze and yet more friendly staff welcoming us to this exclusive feeling festival. Boasting two stages, numerous food and drink stalls and two of the aforementioned labyrinths (Complex geometric patterns one could walk to reinvigorate the spirit) in beautiful rural surroundings this truly felt like something a little different.
Tribal beats stirred the heart from the smaller of the two stages and from the main stage we were treated with driving sets from Eli Verveine and Olympe to get the afternoon started. The cocktails were fresh, the vibe was upbeat and the organisation was excellent, I felt moved to take my personal journey through the labyrinths. As I walked bare foot I felt grounded and ready to lose myself in the music.
Perhaps it was the ethereal and captivating set by HVOB on the main stage, the shared energy of our fellow festival goers or perhaps the fabled ley lines which converge under the Manor but I did experience an energising sense of wellness for my efforts. We were ready for the evenings entertainments to commence.
Argy provided an outstanding tech house set that built in intensity before the final act of the night, the legendary German DJ and producer Boris Brejcha Appearing from below the DJ booth in his now world famous harlequin mask with its mischievous and knowing smile he proceeded to perform a masterclass of DJing. Mixing seamlessly between songs he had every one of us dancing away as dusk gathered, made all the more special by his close presence at such an intimate festival. It was nothing short of magic.
Labyrinth managed to feel at once intimate and exclusive yet also provide the vibes and all one would expect from a larger festival with its own unique spiritual twist. It was an experience I will not soon forget and one that I would be keen to repeat, truly something special.
Labyrinth Events provide a diverse and eclectic portfolio of summer events with Tofte Manor having recently played host to dance floor legends Sasha and John Digweed followed by a day of classic ska and reggae including Norman Jay and the incomparable Madness headlining with many more exciting events yet to come.
Written and Reviewed by James Lockhart and Isabelle De Polla