Festival Declares Its Love For The Lea

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 103 months ago
Festival Declares Its Love For The Lea

As far as London rivers go, the Thames seems to get most of the attention. This Sunday though, it's the Lea's time to shine; Love the Lea Festival — funnily enough organised by Thames 21 — is a riverine hootenanny on Walthamstow Marshes, featuring readings, crafts, food and games and live music.

The music in question is of a distinctly guitar-driven bent, with the aptly-named The Wave Pictures, The Bonfire Band, Harry Pane, and the frankly genius Darren Hayman.

There are talks from The London Sound Survey, Cath Patrick from Lea Valley Park, Rob St. John in conversation with Luke Turner, as well as author Gareth E. Rees reading from his book Marshland — a tome we can vouch for.

If you plan to do the whole eight hours of the festival — and you should — food and drink is in ample supply, with nosh from Club Mexicana, tea and cakes from the East End WI and beer flowing courtesy of Redemption Brewing.

And, in case you'd forgotten this is a festival about a river, there will be river-themed games, pond dipping, and an underwater camera to play around with. It goes without saying that kids are very much welcome.

To get you in the mood, here's a classic ode to London from Darren Hayman's old band Hefner.

Love the Lea Festival is on Walthamstow Marshes on 23 August from 11am-7pm. It's free to attend — just turn up. Profits from the bar go back into work on the rivers of the Lea Valley, so drink up, too.

Last Updated 20 August 2015