Croissant Neuf is one of the most original, innovative and creative constants on the festival scene!
Originally starting out as a skiffle band in East Anglia, playing pubs, folk festivals and village halls the Croissant Neuf of today was just a dream. All six founder members had a keen interest in performance: music, theatre and circus and 1986 saw the first Croissant Neuf tent being used as a café/venue at shows around the region. The café originally specialised in selling croissants and coffee and it quickly assumed its distinctive name.
1986 also saw the original Croissant Neuf collective host the Oak Fair - a music festival in Suffolk- and appear for the first time at Glastonbury Festival. Since that appearance Croissant Neuf has become an ever present feature at Glastonbury, gradually transforming into the 1000 capacity solar-powered venue that sits at the heart of Greenfields today.
After the birth of their three children, Andy Hope and Sally Howell bought a new tent and continued with Croissant Neuf alone. The main focus of the venue changed to circus shows, using all-human acts they re-created the essence of traditional Victorian style performance. Members of the original collective remained involved, most notably helping to run a summer circus skills workshops in Kent and occasionally performing street theatre shows together.
Already keen environmentalists (and well ahead of the times!) Croissant Neuf made the conscious decision to buy solar panels and wind turbines instead of diesel generators. They continued to expand the show for the next couple of years working with a variety of performers and circus acts.
In the early nineties Croissant Neuf toured the country with an environmentally themed show written by Andy and Sally. This resulted in a chance meeting with the directors of The Green Show - the biggest eco-expo of its time. Croissant Neuf, along with Steve Wade (Wind and Sun) and life-long friend Des Kay, (Save the World Club), conceived the idea of a travelling environmental show.
Croissant Neuf consequently gave birth to the Green Roadshow - a travelling environmental education centre - with the circus big top at its focal point. All electrical appliances were run entirely on power from the sun and the wind, from the big top lights and PA to the hair dryers (Andy’s included!) and laptops in the living vans. This brought together the cream of the crop in renewable technology, conservation, battery powered transport, sustainable living and woodland management. With this as the basic tenet all the shows had an eco theme and Croissant Neuf’s traditional, Victorian circus focus began to ebb away as the Roadshow took off. Whilst touring as The Green Roadshow, Croissant Neuf continued to appear as a renewably powered venue at Glastonbury and at other festivals such as the Big Green Gathering.
Music finally returned as Croissant Neuf’s main focus and the turn of the millennium saw them build a massive solar generating unit capable of creating enough power to drive a 10kilowatt P.A system- a feat of modern technological engineering and deserving of its grandiose name; The Solar System. Within a few years Croissant Neuf had created the first fully functioning solar rig of its kind that could deliver perfect sound for anything from solo artists through to a 40 person gospel choir. With the growth of the P.A came the growth of the tent, increasing in size from a 60 foot circus tent to the 1000 capacity music venue you see at festivals today.
In 2007 the family decided to host an entirely independent event to celebrate Croissant Neuf’s 21stbirthday. After bubbling away for many years, the vision for an environmentally responsible family festival, powered sustainably, on a beautiful site and leaving nothing behind it but the echoes of music, footprints and memories; finally came to fruition with the birth of Croissant Neuf Summer Party.
Andy and Sally’s 20 year old son, Luke, joined his parents as a Director but staging the first CNSP threw up significant challenges despite the wealth of experience Andy and Sally brought to the table. Modern licensing laws and the logistical implications of security, fire access and clean water made for slow progress of the initial application. However, working closely with Monmouthshire District Council the event did go ahead and continues into its sixth glorious year!
The Croissant Neuf Summer Party 2007 was the pinnacle of a 21 year sojourn in entertainment. All those involved had come full circle and then some. The beautiful setting, superb mix of eclectic entertainment, along with a wealth of activities and workshops ensured the weekend was a huge achievement. Friends and family of Andy, Sally and Luke helped create the fantastic, friendly, community atmosphere that is prevalent at the festival today. Each year CNSP improves both in terms of sustainability and in being an idyllic weekend for all the family. Join us this summer and you’ll see that CNSP 2012 will be even better than ever.