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'I hope I get to meet Groove Armada backstage'

Harriet Robinson
BBC News, Bristol
BBC Mae Wells, a young woman with long brown hair, wearing a hi-vis jacket and holding a whiteboard that she has written Love Saves the Day on in black pen. She is standing in a field with a blurry stage behind her.BBC
Love Saves the Day will be Mae Wells' first ever music festival experience

Young people say they are "incredibly excited" to take on work experience at one of the first music festivals of the season – and possibly meet some heroes.

Love Saves the Day returns to Ashton Court in Bristol this weekend, welcoming about 60,000 people through its gates to see artists including Overmono, Nia Archives, Ms Dynamite and Groove Armada.

For students from the city's Access Creative College, it will be not just their first ever festival experience, but also a place to learn about the events industry and develop new skills.

"The experience I've had today, setting up the artists backstage, it's been amazing," said 18-year-old Jack Rogers.

Mr Rogers said he "can't wait" to work with artists and "just be backstage and exploring the whole place".

He added he hopes he might bump into Groove Armada behind the scenes.

Jason Golding, 18, said he and his fellow students would mostly be working as artist liaisons, which he explained involved "hospitality for the artists: guiding, assisting in any way, getting about the festival".

"An important job," he said.

Jason, Jack, Eloise and Mae standing in front of a festival buggy wearing hi-vis jackets and holding white boards with artists' names written on them. They are in a field with a heart shaped stage behind them.
From left to right, students Jason Golding, Jack Rogers, Eloise Manning and Mae Wells, who will be assisting artists over the weekend among other tasks

"I'm most excited for working behind the scenes and seeing how everything works at a festival, and especially being a part of that," said Mae Wells, also 18.

Eloise Manning, a 21-year-old musician, has done work experience through the college several times, but since graduating still returns to volunteer at the festival.

"It's just such an amazing experience and I want to perform here one day," she told the BBC.

Jack, wearing a hi-vis jacket and smiling. He has long hair tied back and glasses on. He is standing in front of a festival buggy in a field and the background is blurred.
Jack Rogers hopes he will get to watch, or even meet, Groove Armada as part of his job

The students are lucky that Love Saves the Day has not suffered as much as other similar festivals in recent years, with many struggling to cope with rising costs.

At least 36 British festivals announced a postponement, cancellation or complete closure in 2024.

In contrast, things are looking up for Love Saves the Day, which has been running since 2012.

Co-director Dave Harvey said: "The last few years have been tough since Covid.

"But this year, it seems a bit of a bounce back to pre-Covid years."

He believes the festival's longevity is down to it simply being "a very good party for everyone".

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