Press area
For press enquiries, please contact Nat Hudson at indietrackspress@gmail.com or 07814 439932.
High resolution photos of the festival can be downloaded here.
Press releases
2 December 2011 - Tickets now on sale
Press for Indietracks Festival 2011
…A festival as relaxed, compact, civilised and fun as they get.
The Guardian
Indietracks has gradually earned its place as one of the highlights of the summer festival season for the discerning lover of all things truly independent and underground…….this is still possibly the friendliest, most polite and laidback festival we've ever encountered, and having celebrated its fifth birthday this weekend, let's hope Indietracks stays around for many more.
Drowned In Sound
Indietracks excels at providing a fabulous atmosphere and a stress free weekend, with no queues at the toilets or bars; it is easy to see why people keep coming back year after year. Not only do the promoters care about the punters, but they actually care about the venue which is held on a site with a railway museum.
Efestivals
Indietracks is too polite to stick two fingers up at corporate festivals…..but at the same time it doesn't need to. That's because it is so much more effortlessly cooler.
Derby Evening Telegraph
It's not a place to take a timetabled schedule to catch as many specific bands as feasibly possible. It's a place to just hang out, enjoy the rays, catch some vibes, meet some people, do some dances, and drink a few beers. Put most simply, the place is a joy. It's like they plucked the words "music", "trains" and "museum" out of a random word generator, and then based an entire festival around it, with spectacular results.
Musos Guide
Indietracks is always special. This year's festival? Even more so. The fifth summer Indietracks (29th-31st July) was not only able to confidently assert its most diverse array of artists to date, but it seems as if now, half a decade into existence, the event really has established as loyal and enthusiastic a crowd as any music festival could possibly boast.
God Is In The TV zine
This is a weekend that will live with me forever, just like all the other Indietracks ones. I can't put my finger on what makes Indietracks so special, and I don't really want to, else I might spoil it all. It's just there, once a year, like some kind of second Christmas…
A Layer of Chips
It's a breath of fresh air that's needed in an increasingly overcrowded industry, and where the festivals that stand out are – in theory – the ones with the greater chance of succeeding. Long may it continue...
Music OMH
This year's Indietracks, now in its fifth year, was frankly one of the great festivals on the calendar. It had moments of magic that you couldn't architect through pyrotechnics, a well-choreographed routine or bringing on a gospel choir – you simply had to be there.
Neon Filler
There's just something really special about this little weekend; it's one of the UK's most reasonably priced festivals, hands down the best for all ages and more importantly is probably the most well located — on the site of heritage railway heaven with museums and train rides, not to mention the craft workshops, a tent full of vintage, handmade and musical goodies to peruse and genuinely tasty festival food at reasonable prices. And the line-up, well what a feast this year…
Culture Deluxe
Press for Indietracks Festival 2010
Indietracks' relaxed atmosphere and unique choice of stages - a church, a steam train, indoor barn stage and an outdoor one that literally did fall off the back of a lorry - as well as a wide selection of affordable real ales make it one of the most prominent events on the summer's music calendar.
Drowned In Sound
It was very friendly and everyone was helpful. I was chatting away to people in queues and it felt very safe and very friendly. I would definitely recommend it and I'll be going again hopefully next year.
BBC6 Music (Steve Lamacq's festival spy)
Once again Indietracks festival provided a warm, friendly, entertaining event, where the bands and punters all mingle together without the over inflated egos that you get at some other bigger festivals....Indietracks will always be a special festival that is worth making the effort to come to, it is one of the few festivals where you know that regardless of who is playing you are guaranteed to have a great weekend.
Efestivals
Now in its fourth year Indietracks is indie-pop's mecca, its Nirvana – a festival borne from all things C86 it is the place to be for indie music with heart.
The National Student
You should really get yourself along to Indietracks for a truly unique festival experience.... Although it threatened to rain for much of the weekend it thankfully stayed away. Not that it mattered to the legions of indie fans who had fallen upon the Midlands Railway - there wasn't a single person without a smile to be seen.
BBC Derby
It is difficult to pinpoint one single thing that made the Indietracks Festival such tremendous fun....Derbyshire should be very proud of its own, little-known, but ever-expanding festival. Roll on next year.
Derby Evening Telegraph
Set in the glorious countryside of rural Derbyshire, Indietracks is a unique festival that showcases the best of new and upcoming indie music talent.....Indietracks is that rarity of a festival, a trailblazer that is something different and isn't afraid to come out of the box.
Winkball
[The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's] set is the perfect send-off, and as the last steam trains leave the site and the last cries of "We will never die" echo out into nothingness, they confirm unequivocally both their status as one of the planets most exciting bands and the weekend's status as one of the friendliest, most enjoyable, nay best, independent festivals.
Contact Music
Indietracks is such a perfect festival that I almost want to keep it a secret. But as the profits go to keeping the wonderful Midland Railway Centre running, I guess I ought to start forcing everyone I know to come and join in the indie fun.
247 magazine
Back from a fine weekend among like minded people amid the glorious infrastructure of Indietracks.....In summary: wonderful weekend by the abandoned stock, once again.
Sweeping the Nation
Indietracks still remains my favourite festival on the musical calendar. I've mostly written about the bands in these posts, but there's so much more that makes it what it is. Primarily how friendly just about every single person you meet is. Bands wander the site and mingle with everyone else...and even the volunteers who work on the railway. Of course, discussions about just who should play next year are already in full swing, but honestly, it doesn't really matter. If the Indietracks team came up with a list of 50 bands I'd never heard of before, I'd still go, perfectly trusting in their abilities to select ideal bands and put on a perfect weekend.
Another Form of Relief
....words can't really relay how I feel about this precious festival.....I don't go to any other festivals any more....mainly because nothing will compare to Indietracks, alright?
A Layer of Chips
It's so hard to write succinctly about Indietracks when it's so much that makes it special, the bands, the venue, the fantastic food, the organisers and volunteers who do such a great job and the trains. But, and it's a cliche, I guess what really makes the festival each year is the people...It's a moment where turning around to see someone dancing behind you can lift your heart 'til you're feeling giddy or someone you haven't seen in forever gives you a hug, and suddenly you remember that, yes, this is what Indietracks is all about. Roll on next year.
Beer and Bands
Drawing on the same wellspring of C86 pop that fuels most of the bands and all of the fans at the festival, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart take down that wall between performers and fans, summing up the sense of common purpose and shared belief you feel everywhere you walk around this weekend.
Sounds XP
There are trains to drink on, indie discos to dance at, new friends to meet...Indietracks is like being a member of the best social club you'll ever find. And yes, there are badges.
Morning Star
The location is stunning, the campsite clean, and the festival-goers (on the whole) loved-up and well-behaved. And where else can you see your favourite band members looking rough in the shower queue, mere hours before they go onstage?
For Folk's Sake
Press for Indietracks Festival 2009
Band played in a restored church, in a train shed, or on the lawn while steam trains glided by. Most magically of all, some of them got to play on the trains themselves - while the train was moving...Everyone sang along. It was like a parallel universe commute from the planet Sunshine.
The Guardian
They've done a superb job yet again, the outdoor stage and craft workshops were a great addition and the team always make us feel welcome, and with the help of the staff of Midland Railway who seem to wear smiles 24/7 - who wouldn't want to return for more next year?
eFestivals
What made the event extra special was te cosmopolitan element..The museum itself was a distinguishing feature, providing a rustic charm to the festival. Music lovers were transported to the grounds on a vintage shuttle train and could enjoy time out relaxing in signal boxes and old railway carriages.
Derby Evening Telegraph
It's hard to walk around without feeling a sense of satisfaction that you've discovered something very special.
Virtual Festivals
The atmosphere was as friendly as a Fat Controller after three Melton Mowbray pork pies, and extremely well organised with awesome, inspired music and toilets that never ran out of loo roll. Perfect.
Whisper Magazine
It's an occasion when artists and the paying public mix together as one, with no pretence, no egos and nothing of the corporate juggernaut. It's merely about the music...If you want the continual musical sugar rush offered up here, then there can be no better event on the calendar.
Clickmusic
The atmosphere around the festival is something to behold, there's zero commercialisation and when someone is playing there's a feeling that everyone is really listening. It's been yet another amazing Indietracks and the prospect of going home saddens my heart to the core.
Pop Miwsig
What more could a girl want than a tiny little festival on the Midland Railway, a little tram/train hybrid to and from the campsite, talks by Fortuna Pop and a little marquee with an ever-changing timetable of Tatty Devine rarities, band merch, brooches...? Essentially it's heaven.
Muso's Guide
In just its third year, Indietracks has found a great big niche right at the heart of what we must by law refer to as the crowded festival summer...the fact that attendance numbers are exponentially growing is testament to many things: the idea, the reputation of its clientele, the fortunes of the music it covers at base level, and above all else the experience. Far away from 'boutique' labels, Skins kids or fashionista column inches, Indietracks exists in and of itself, so much so you almost don't want to give the game away.
Sweeping the Nation
Well, that was just about the most perfect weekend ever!
Another Form of Relief
There are gigs I go to throughout the year that have an inkling of what being at Indietracks feels like, but none of them recreate the sense that, for a few hours on two days of the year, you've found you're own little piece of pop majesty.
A Layer Of Chips
Press for Indietracks Festival 2008
We ride miniature steam trains and talk to llamas. We sit on a hill in the beautiful countryside and watch bands while the sunset explodes into crimson. We sit under clouds as big as spaceships and drink cider and the sky unexpectedly fills with hot air balloons and I think: "This is actually amazing. The best festival I've ever been to.
Plan B
...without doubt the most enjoyable and civilised festival we've ever been to in our lives. No wonder [Los Campesinos!] frontman Gareth Campesinos! looks humble and overwhelmed at the end. DiS is too – here's to Indietracks 2009!
Drowned In Sound
Set in a train centre more used to visitors interested in steam trains than obscure indie bands, this is an event set up to please and surprise.
Artrocker
Would I like to go back next year? Hell yes! A festival punter's paradise!
Efestivals
Over two days, this quiet and secluded area of Derbyshire became an indiepop haven shaking to the sounds of good music. Add to this the heritage of the railway, and this unique little festival is on the right tracks.
Nottingham Evening Post
It was a tremendous success, my team, the railway, the bands and the audience were all delighted with the way it went – many people saying it was the best festival they'd ever been to.
Stuart Indietracks in Ripley & Heanor News
It wasn't all about the music - but the music I got to hear was mostly wonderful. Indietracks is so much more than this -but it's hard to find the words that can sum it all up. The steam trains, the smiling people and location make it something I was just happy to been a part of.
Indie mp3
The location, the bands, the clientele, the organisation, the whole essence of Indietracks has seen an increase in publicity and numbers from last year and ridden it out spectacularly. It may not be the coolest to the Vice subscribers, but who cares when there's something uniquely special about Indietracks already.
Sweeping The Nation
Indietracks was a load of fun. Setting a festival in a railway museum - great move. Lovely band/fan run merch stand - brilliant. Ace bands and great people watching them - our favourite festival of the year!
Pull Yourself Together
I don't know how we can get away with Indietracks. It's so removed from everything we know real life to be and even further removed from what escapist fun is to most people. It can't even be called escapism because there is no real attempt to create a separate reality. It just is what it is in the most effortless way.
Hey Hey Honeypop!