The inimitable Field Maneuvers festival’s 11th edition took place across three days [16th-18th August 2024]. Inundated with glorious sunshine and immaculate vibes, the festival once again brought together its fiercely loyal fanbase with newcomers to the up-for-it crowd. An unforgettable weekend that stands out as their best yet, featuring an impressive lineup of world-famous DJs, up-and-coming talent, local legends, long-time friends, and family all brought their A-game to celebrate FM’s legacy after the team announced last year that for 2025 there would be changes ahead. An outpouring of love was clear to see, with chants for “One more year!”, many words exchanged about friendships made at FM, and some attendees dressed in mourning outfits and a headstone stating ‘RIP Field Maneuvers’ proving it really is a festival unlike anything else.
Having announced in 2023 that 2024 would be the final edition in its current form, the Field Maneuvers team are currently reflecting on what’s to come with the FM directors sharing:
“You lot excelled yourselves. Field Maneuvers 2024 was incredible. To sell out our party in a year when so many independent festivals didn’t even make it to the start line was truly humbling. We had more takeovers, more artists, and more people behind the scenes than ever before, all pulling together to make this our favourite FM to date. We have been completely overwhelmed by the number of conversations we had at the event, and messages in our inbox telling us what Field Maneuvers has meant to them personally over the years.”
“This time last year, it felt like it would be impossible to carry on with FM, for our own personal reasons, but also because the festival climate has become so unpredictable. We couldn’t see a financial way forward where we remained true to our anti-corporate ethos. Then, in true FM management style, we somehow managed to reach a level of disorganisation that has not only seen us put on our best party to date but also our very first event since 2018 – when we made £260 – that hasn’t left us in a puddle of crippling financial anxiety. We’re still crunching the numbers and scratching our heads as to how an event that we’ve personally branded ‘worst rave ever’ is still standing after all this time. So stay tuned, because with your support, we might have found the glimmer of light that could see us keep going in 2025 after all.”
Photographer Credit: Courteney Frisby
