Giant BSTK letters in a field at a music festival. People are having a paint fight around it. Food stalls in the distance.

Brownstock — An Essex Music Festival Through the Years

For many years I was fortunate enough to have a friendly, family run, music festival within walking distance from my home in South Woodham Ferrers near Chelmsford.

It is where I cut my festival photography teeth, at Brownstock!

I have some incredible memories and made so many friends.
Here is a very small selection of photographs from over the years.

  • The view behind giant BSTK letters at a festival. The silhouette of a man standing on the letter T. You can see the moon, it is twilight. People are walking past and there are fairground lights.
  • Kelis performing at Brownstock. The lights are cyan and magenta. She is wearing a purple outift.
  • Grandmaster Flash at Brownstock Festival in Essex. He's holding the microphone out to the crowd.
  • A woman in a yellow shirt that says "young and wild" in red letters, is amongst the crowd dancing at a festival. Everyone has an arm in the air.
  • The saloon at Brownstock is packed to the rafters as Winston and the Lads play.
  • A man and a woman in a yellow hammock.
  • It's getting dark at Brownstock and the stage lights illuminate the crowd.
  • Justin Hawkins of The Darkness at Brownstock festival. He is in a pale blue suit and singing.
  • A woman has her arm in the air. She and the rest of the crowd are illuminated by the orange lights of the unseen stage. At a music festival called Brownstock, it's twilight.
  • Girls all hugging and laughing at music festival.
  • Basement Jaxx at Brownstock festival in 2015.
  • Lady Leshurr at Brownstock festival.
  • A man holds a stool above his head during a gig in the saloon bar at Brownstock.
  • Two women with hula hoops covered in blue and pink after a paint fight.
  • Dizzee Rascal on stage at Brownstock. The light is blue.
  • In the dance tent at Brownstock festival a couple kiss under a blue white light.
  • Two women dancing together, a couple are hugging.
  • In the foreground Max Lewis of Mandeville is playing at Brownstock.
  • A woman in a dark dress and red cardigan is dancing under a string of lights. It's twilight at Brownstock festival.
  • Three women sat on a haybale, they are laughing at a phone. There are fairground rides and people walking past behind them.
  • A couple in the foreground are sitting on the grass at a music festival.
  • Twilight over the Brownstock BSTK festival. The string lights and glow from the tents and stalls.
  • Justin Hawkins of The Darkness at Brownstock festival. The lights are orange, his trousers and waistcoat are pale blue.
  • A couple are dancing with each other, a lit up stage and a crowd at a music festival are behind them.
  • Winston and The Lads performing at Brownstock.
  • A waffles van in the dark at Brownstock.
  • Green, yellow and red confetti billows out from the stage at Brownstock.
  • A couple lying an armchair in the saloon at Brownstock. They are holding each other. Both are wearing sunglasses and the man has a beard.
  • Women dancing at festival.
  • A woman drumming.
  • A couple kissing at Brownstock.
  • Kelis looking out holding a microphone. On stage at Brownstock.
  • A woman has her hand in the air, she's holding a bottle of beer. She is at a silent disco.
  • The sky is blue and peach coloured as the sun sets. People are dancing under a magenta light. A man is dressed as Superman.
  • People dancing in pink light at night in front of the Treehouse stage at Brownstock.
  • The sun has just set over Brownstock. On the right is the stage, lit up in white and light purple, it illuminates the crowd.
  • Two women sitting on a ledge. One is smoking.
  • Man sitting on top of a giant letter. The twilight sky is blue behind him.
  • Wretch 32 at Brownstock music festival.
  • Vula Malinga and another singer with Basement Jaxx at Brownstock Festival.
  • Labrinth on stage at Brownstock. He is wearing sunglasses and a hat.
  • A woman with a foliage crown at the front of a the crowd by the barriers at a festival.
  • Izzy Bizu on stage at Brownstock.
  • A man with round glasses and patterned shirt is sitting in an armchair. There are people standing with drinks behind him. They are in the saloon at Brownstock festival.
  • Mandeville at Brownstock. Playing on the floor.
  • BSTK in giant letters in a field, under a blue sky.
  • A view of the stage and crowd under magenta light at BSTK festival.
  • Black and white photograph of people at night laughing at Brownstock festival.
  • Man with beard pointing at the camera.
  • Man is pouring beer from a bottle in the guitarist's mouth as he plays. Winston and the Lads are playing in the saloon at Brownstock.
  • Two women stand by the barriers in front of a stage at a music festival.
  • Two men sit at a table and chairs in a mock up living room in a field at Brownstock festival.
  • Dan Hawkins of The Darkness on stage at Brownstock festival. He is wearing a burgundy suit and pointing fingers out at the crowd.
  • Dan Hawkins of The Darkness playing guitar on stage at Brownstock. His foot is up on the monitor.
  • The Party Bus at Brownstock in Gulf blue and orange colours. The stage is in the distance.
  • Katy B at Brownstock. The lights are blue and white.
  • Justin Hawkins of The Darkness at Brownstock festival. His fist is raised in the air.
  • Beardyman at Brownstock Festival. A view from the back of the stage with the crowd in shot.
  • A woman with red hair dancing at a festival.
  • A child upside down in hammock.
  • The BSTK stage viewed from the back of the crowd. It is twilight.
  • A woman giving the devil horns. The stage is behind her where The Darkness are playing.
  • A little girl in flip flops on a man's shoulders at Brownstock festival. A couple behind them are hugging..
  • A woman looking at a man who is carrying her.
  • A man in a Levi's shirt sat on a wooden bench outside the saloon at Brownstock.
  • Two women try to steady the speakers. So many people are dancing they are wobbling.
  • A dark haired man and blonde woman sit on the floor at a festival surrounded by people. They are wearing hats, they are kissing in the sunlight.
  • The Darkness laughing in a van, except Frankie Poullain who looks bored.
  • A woman dressed up as a bride is on a man's shoulders as he walks about a music festival called Brownstock BSTK.
  • Front row of a crowd at the barrier for the stage. At Brownstock festival. They have their hands in the air and smiling.
  • Women dancing at a music festival.
  • Irwin Sparkes of The Hoosiers at Brownstock.
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  • A man and woman kiss in the crowd at a festival.
  • In the dance tent at the front of the barrier. People are dancing.
  • Justin Hawkins of The Darkness at Brownstock festival. He is wearing a pale blue suit and is gesturing to the crowd.
  • A woman holding a bottle of cider during a paint fight at Brownstock festival.
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  • Singer in Pieface singing at the camera.
  • A man with no top on covered in paint gives a thumbs up.
  • The silhouette of woman hula hooping at Brownstock music festival at night. The light is red and yellow.
  • Girls with their hands in the air at a festival. Seen through a group of people dancing.
  • Justin Hawkins and Frankie Poullain of The Darkness at Brownstock festival.
  • The BSTK stage viewed from the back of the crowd.
  • A woman is on a man's shoulders in the crowd at a festival. She is wearing sunglasses and black denim shorts.
  • The view of the festival early in the day. There's BSTK sign, the sky is blue, people are arriving.
  • A picture at night in the crowd at a festival. A man looks at a woman with a wide open mouth.
  • The stage at Brownstock. There are fireworks going off, the light is pink. Crowd of people are watching Dizzee Rascal.
  • Vula Malinga performing with Basement Jaxx at Brownstock. She is wearing a rainbow dress and wig.
  • Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx backstage at Brownstock festival.
  • A view from the back of a crowd in front of the stage.
  • Johnny Borrell of Razorlight performing at Brownstock. He is looking down at the guitar. The lighting is peachy, purple,blue and pink.
  • View from the stage of a massive paint fight at Brownstock festival.
  • Man with hands on knees laughing during a paint fight.
  • The sun has just set on the Saloon at Brownstock.
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  • A view of the bus and main stage at Brownstock at night, after everyone has left the arena.
  • A girl at the barriers of a music festival, a small boy is on her back.
  • A girl on someone's shoulders.
  • A little boy leaning on a woman's knee.
  • View of the crowd from behind at Brownstock.
  • Roller skating at Bump Rollerdisco the Brownstock festival. The lights are blue and red.
  • Man skateboarding.
  • Kelis is singing on stage at Brownstock. There is smoke highlight by white and purple lights.
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  • Goldie Lookin Chain on stage at Brownstock Festival.
  • A blonde woman sat at a table at a music festival is laughing. The sun is setting.
  • Mike Keat as Miguel Mantovani in the Cuban Brothers. On stage at Brownstock.
  • Four elderly men are stood in the middle of the Brownstock festival looking up at the sky.
  • A woman with pink hair and a dress of leaves, has her arms open wide.
  • A person skateboarding.
  • People having a paint fight at Brownstock.
  • A group of people two women and three men, and together at a music festival. They are laughing in the sunshine.
  • King Charles performing at Brownstock.
  • People having a paint fight at Brownstock.
  • Man in sunglasses points finger in the air in the saloon.
  • A view of the Brownstock festival. People are walking and sitting, the stage is to the right. There are tents in the background, the sun is starting to set.
  • Mike Keat as Miguel Mantovani of The Cuban Brothers performing at Brownstock. He is sat in a chair after hurting his leg during the show, but carries on.
  • Two people dance at Brownstock festival. The person in the foreground is wearing stickers that say #WHOISLONGY.
  • A group of people sat in a circle at a music festival.
  • Two women cuddle up at a music festival.
  • Justin Hawkins Of The Darkness performing on stage.
  • A woman singing in the saloon bar.
  • An open top double decker bus decorated in Le Mans theme in the Gulf blue and orange colours. It is twilight at Brownstock festival.
  • Two girls in a hammock at the Brownstock festival.
  • The dance tent at a festival. People waving hands in the air, white spiky stars in the ceiling, lighting is white.
  • Two women sat on the floor at a music festival. One is wearing wellies, one is wearing converse.
  • Dan Gillespie Sells of The Feeling at Brownstock.
  • Two women looking at the camera in the crowd of a music festival.
  • A blonde woman and a man look at the camera as they walk through Brownstock festival.
  • A man holding a plastic pint in a prayer like pose, in the crowd at a music festival.
  • Roots Manuva on stage at Brownstock.
  • De La Soul on stage at Brownstock.
  • A musician in King Charles' band on stage at BrownStock.
  • A girl on a man's shoulders in the crowd at a festival. It's nighttime.
  • Kelis at Brownstock Festival in Essex. The light on stage is purple.
  • Johnny Borrell of Razorlight at Brownstock Festival.
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  • A family dancing in tent at a music festival.
  • A woman with brown hair and red lipstick at night, at a festival.
  • Matt Bowman on stage in The Pigeon Detectives. The lights are purple and yellow.
  • Matt Bowman of The Pigeon Detectives after spitting water in the air.
  • Matt Bowman of The Pigeon Detectives spitting water into the air
  • Matt Bowman of The Pigeon Detectives pouring water on his head.
  • Matt Bowman of The Pigeon Detectives leaning on stage holding the microphone stand.
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  • Men walking the tightrope under green lights.
  • A woman in a hat, sunglasses and red lipstick is laughing holding a can of Strongbow. She is dancing in a festival tent.
  • A barman wearing a cowboy hat leans on the bar next to the till.
  • A view from backstage of King Charles performing to a crowd at Brownstock.
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  • A man and a woman sat on top of a skate ramp.
  • King Charles on stage at Brownstock.
  • Brownstock letters spelt out in haybales.
  • Grandmaster Flash at Brownstock Festival in Essex.
  • Matt Bowman of The Pigeon Detectives sitting on a monitor on stage at Brownstock. He is soaking wet.
  • A burlesque dancer with big feather fans, a man plays the piano.
  • A woman putting roller skates at Bump Rollerdisco.
  • Zane Lowe DJing a set at Brownstock festival. The lights are white, he is wearing black baseball cap.
  • Labrinth in a black and white photograph at Brownstock.
  • Paul of Magistrates playing on stage under pink lights at Brownstock.
  • A picture of just Labrinth's hand playing the guitar and leg.
  • Pieface covers band performing in the saloon bar at Brownstock festival.
  • Backstage in the dance tent at Brownstock.
  • A model of a cow in a field backstage at Brownstock.
  • Angelos Epithemiou carrying a Sainsbury's bag on stage at Brownstock. He is pointing.
  • The crowd being showered with champagne.
  • A woman on someone's shoulders at a festival. She's looking at the camera.
  • The Futureheads on stage at Brownstock. The lighting is orange and yellowy green.
  • Ricky Nunn of The Milk at an Essex festival.
  • Luke Ayling in the foreground performing with The Milk at Brownstock. It is twilight, they are on stage with blue and orange lighting, you can see the crowd to the left..
  • Ricky Nunn of The Milk at Brownstock.
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  • The Futureheads at Brownstock.
  • Cosmo Jarvis performing at Brownstock festival.
  • Will Daly and The Legion of Doom drumming at Brownstock.
  • Man in a Tenbomb artwork hat at Brownstock.
  • Basement Jaxx on stage at Brownstock. The singer is smiling.
  • A man in a multi coloured stripy jumper and big blue hat leans on the railings at a festival.
  • The Cuban Brothers at Brownstock.
  • Ricky Nunn of The Milk jumping in the air on stage at Brownstock.
  • A couple at a music festival, a woman is lying with her head on man's lap. They have taken their wellies off.
  • Labrinth in a black and white photograph at Brownstock. He is greeting the crowd over the barriers.
  • Jessica of Brownstock on camera.
  • Band playing in the Saloon.
  • People in a dance tent at a festival. Big star on the ceiling, blue and green lights.
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  • Pieface covers band performing in the saloon bar at Brownstock festival.
  • Vula Malinga performing with Basement Jaxx at Brownstock. She is wearing a rainbow dress and wig and stands in a beam of light.
  • The moon at twilight over the Brownstock festival.