Fire in the Mountain Festival: Fire in the Mountain

Folk Festival Fun

Fire in the Mountain is an awesome little folk festival in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains. It’s a really natural and secluded spot, and there’s no phone signal anywhere –  some people have even reported seeing fairies. We’ve done some work with them before, but when they asked us to light the whole festival, we practically sprouted wings.

Fire in the Mountain wanted lighting for the stages and bars, but also all the connecting areas in between creating one big joined up installation. Of course, the lighting also had to fit with the festival values – to be natural, not obviously lit and environmentally friendly. And fun. Really, really fun.

Lighting the fire

With help from the brilliant Harriet Wallis, we created a design that gave festival goers enough light to explore and find their way, while letting them remain fully lost in nature at the same time.

We put together an atmospheric lighting rig for the timber-framed main stage, turning the trees leading down to the ‘Dingly Dell’ relaxation area a lighting feature in their own right to draw attention to the beauty of the surroundings. Around the bar area, Harriet built beautiful ‘swallow lanterns’ from willow which we lit with a fluttering chase pattern to bring them to life.

In line with Fire in the Mountain’s environmental focus, we also kept the power draw of the lighting as low as possible using lighting that could be powered by solar energy.

A festival of light

We love working at Fire in the Mountain. It’s like a little holiday away from society. People were able to lose themselves in the festival and their surroundings, without technology taking them out of it. Our discreet designs helped keep the environment as the focus. And our stage and installation lighting highlighted all the amazing stuff the organisers put on. We’re absolutely buzzing to go back next year.

For the last few years Bailes and Light have taken on doing all the site, stage and artistic lighting for Fire in the Mountain – a 2000 cap festival. They continue to amaze and surprise – producing beautiful lighting arrangements, far from just functional. They are true artists!

Joe Buirski, Fire in the Mountain