Great live music makes me feel alive and in the moment. Pop and RnB are probably my favourite types of music. It’s great when you get to see someone live.
I first heard about the charity Stay Up Late when founder Paul Richards gave an interview to local magazine The Hovarian. I saw that and decided to get involved.
The first thing I did was become a gig buddy (this is where Stay Up Late pairs up people with and without learning disabilities in Sussex to be friends and to go to events together). I then became a Stay Up Late quality checker. This is someone who visits supported living homes to see what their support is like. Now I’m also an ambassador so I’m pretty well involved.
Stay Up Late went to Glastonbury for 10 years. In 2024, it changed things a bit, and attended a number of smaller festivals more local in Sussex with the hopes of making it more affordable and accessible for more adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.
I first went to Love Supreme in Lewes in 2023. I went with my parents and I thought it was nice, a relaxed festival that was accessible. I recommended Stay Up Late should go to Love Supreme as a group.
Going to the festival with Stay Up Late last year was a different experience because I went with the other gig buddies in a group instead of with my parents. I was with 26 others, including three staff members. It was much better, it was more fun and I really enjoyed myself.
Also, we got the train and then a coach together – that was really fun. Going with gig buddies is the best way to go to a festival because you get to see people with disabilities doing things they want to do – it makes me happy to see that.
I can’t remember the names of any bands I saw at Love Supreme last year, but the music was really good. There were lots of different tents and stalls, and I thought the price was OK for what you got.
Food and drink were nice, with lots of choice. One stall had a machine that took both cash and card, so that was good for people with disabilities to use but it was a bit strange giving your order to a machine instead of a person.
The negatives were that there was no phone signal, so it was really hard to meet up with friends because you couldn’t message or call them. Leaving at night was also a bit tricky – the bus back to the train station was really packed. It also got very cold. The weather wasn’t very good for July, so we left earlier than I would have liked.
The festival was quite accessible, even though in some places it was very busy. There was an access tent but I didn’t use it. Overall, the festival site was laid out well with plenty of space which was good for access.
The best thing about smaller, local festivals is that they are less busy and you can enjoy the area and the music more. I think more people could go which was good and made a more fun experience.
My tips for someone who wants to go to a festival but is nervous is to go with people you feel safe with. It makes bits like travelling easier, as you’re in a group having fun. Try a small one to start – there are less issues with crowds. I’d also say prepare and find out which music you’d like to see and focus on that – it can then feel really exciting.
Rohan Lowe is a Stay Up Late assistant and was supported to write this piece
