Splendour Festival is Nottinghamshire’s biggest music festival. Set across five stages in the beautiful Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, it plays host to a variety of performers; from musical icons, world class performers and rising stars. Every year since 2012, as a key partner, we’ve played a pivotal role in the success of Splendour. Complete with our own ‘Confetti stage’ and ‘Courtyard stage’, this year was arguably our finest yet!
The Confetti stage (pictured above) – last year’s main stage – looked and sounded amazing. It was an incredible weekend with an estimated 30,000 people in attendance. It was fantastic to see so many Confetti staff and students coming together to help deliver two days of live music and entertainment, working hard behind the scenes filming, running, liaising, producing, crewing, and performing. In fact, it served up 55 student opportunities, amassing 1,406 ‘Do it for Real’ hours for our students!
Students owned Splendour
Learners made Splendour their classroom, crewing both the Confetti and Courtyard stages – the Courtyard stage in particular was almost entirely student managed. They proved a very professional and capable unit and did an excellent job keeping to time, liaising with the artists, and getting the best out of the performances.
Check out some great photos of our Confetti artists performing on stage:
Featured Confetti acts included Lyvia, Ellie Stainsby, COURTNEY and Airport Dad, all of whom delivered standout sets. Over on the Confetti stage, Cam Mannix and Luna and the Lime Slices performed well-received sets to cheering crowds of festival goers. Find out more about them!
Ellie Stainsby (pictured above) is a Level 3 – Music Performance and Songwriting student, she is an acoustic folk singer, songwriter and pianist. Her ethereal sound is influenced by artists such as Damien Rice, Birdy, and Billie Marten. She recently released her debut single ‘Silence no sound‘ in March 2023.
Ellie is well known in the local music scene, having performed in various venues across Nottingham. When asked how she felt about playing Splendour Festival – her biggest gig yet – and how her course helped prepare her for the challenge, she said:
“It’s amazing that I am one of 25 artists playing at the Splendour Festival alongside Noel Gallagher! Confetti is great, it’s got brilliant teachers and the course, Music performance is 100% recommended – you get the opportunity to meet so many people, and get involved in the local music scene” – Ellie Stainsby
Several of our Confetti alumni were also part of the line up, performing with their bands: The Publics, FAT BAMBOO, and The Chase.
We caught up with Confetti graduates, Sam and Alex from FAT BAMBOO (pictured above), a psychedelic four-piece band from Nottingham. Beginning in March 2022, FAT BAMBOO has become known nationwide for their highly energetic shows fuelled by their distinctive kaleidoscopic sound. In a matter of months, they have played alongside FEET, Midnight Rodeo & Sancho Panza at Nottingham’s famous Rescue Rooms and headlined the BBC Introducing stage at last year’s Hockley Hustle. Asked about their time at Confetti and if they had any advice for current students looking to make it in the industry, Sam and Alex said:
“At Confetti, the teachers are great, they are always so friendly. You’ve got the facilities – Metronome is a massive, beautiful and brilliant studio – and you’ve got the opportunity to meet creative people and form a band. If you want to do something, believe in yourself and keep going.” – FAT BAMBOO, Sam and Alex
Take a look at our students supporting Splendour behind the scenes:
Our Confetti Education and Technical teams oversaw student involvement and did an excellent job with the planning, logistics and, above all, supporting our students to have the best possible experience – this was their Splendour and they really owned it.
Here’s a few words from some of the students involved:
“I can’t believe I’m only in my first year and I am getting the opportunity to be camera operator number 2, filming Splendour festival footage for Notts TV! It’s real-life experience and it’s preparing me for what I’ll be doing in the future. Confetti promotes a lot of opportunities and gives you the freedom you need to grow.” – Alistair Allison, Year 1 BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology
“Confetti has loads of contacts, and being able to work events during my studies is a huge opportunity. I treat it as a job. I want to work in the film industry and you need to have the skills including camera operating, lighting, sound, and know how to talk to people – interviews are a stepping stone to that. This is something I’ve always wanted to do.” – Sarah Walsh , Year 1 BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology
Interviews with the stars
Our students also worked closely with Notts TV, Splendour Festival’s TV broadcast partner. They did a terrific job in capturing audience engagement and backstage artist interviews for their annual Splendour Festival special.
Top guests interviewed included Jealous Nostril (formed by Razorlight frontman, Johnny Borrell), Betty Boo, The Vaccines, Inspiral Carpets, and Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters)!
Not to mention, Vicky McClure MBE jumped on the mic as guest presenter for Notts TV, interviewing the festival’s day two headliner, Noel Gallagher (pictured below).
Kind words from Confetti ambassadors
In addition to the music acts, our friend and Confetti ambassador Vicky McClure MBE took to the Main stage for a performance with ‘Our Dementia Choir’. Following the emotional performance – some audience members were visibly moved to tears – Vicky came over for a chat with Notts TV on our dapper open-topped bus and said some lovely things about Confetti:
“Splendour wouldn’t be what it is without all of the wonderful people working behind the scenes – stewarding, crewing and documenting the event – and Confetti plays a huge part in that. I am very proud to be a Confetti ambassador and the Confetti stage is a great way to discover new artists. Sometimes it’s their first big gig and it’s great that Splendour and Confetti provide them that opportunity.” – BAFTA- award-winning actress, Vicky McClure MBE
Another dear friend of ours, Shane Meadows, popped over for an interview backstage at Confetti, and was keen to chat to our Film degree students (pictured) and share some words of wisdom, he said:
“Confetti’s incredible. Had it existed back when I was 16 years old, it would have been somewhere I’d have desperately wanted to get into. The thing I would always say to anybody is rather than following the trends, look to your own life and past as a starting point because that’s what makes you unique. Filmmaking is all about looking inside yourself.” – BAFTA- award-winning director and writer, Shane Meadows
Ten years of Confetti at Splendour
Over a decade, literally hundreds of Confetti students have participated in the East Midlands’ biggest and best outdoor festival, clocking up over 10,000 ‘Do it for Real’ hours!
The organisers heaped praise on the students involved and asked that thanks be passed on to everyone at Confetti and Notts TV. Splendour’s 15th birthday edition didn’t disappoint – reflecting on the milestones reached this year and the value we add to the Festival, DHP Family said:
“We’re very pleased to be celebrating 10 years of our partnership with Confetti. Their hard work and passion have been fantastic over the years and we’re proud to have provided opportunities for young people in our city to showcase their talents and learn about the industry. Here’s to a decade of collaboration and empowering the next generation of event professionals!” – Anton Lockwood, Director of Live at DHP Family.
Fun on social
Our marketing team captured all of the fun stuff going on onstage and behind the scenes – check out our awesome highlights reel below!
All in all, this has been yet another successful year at Splendour for Confetti – and we want to say a big well done to everyone involved!
We are looking forward to next year’s event already, and are excited for the opportunities our students will be able to get involved in.
Want to be involved with Splendour next year? Check out our range of courses at both college and degree-level. Like what you see? Book your place on an upcoming Open Day.
