The Big Chill 2009: photo gallery

If you want a festival experience that’s just a little less hectic than some of the others that the UK has to offer (we’re looking at you, Download and Glastonbury), The Big Chill is the place to go. Sun-kissed ambience is not the only thing on the agenda, though, as MusicRadar discovered when it headed to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire for four days of music, comedy, tea and sausage.

MusicRadar chatted to Phil (left) and Paul Hartnoll of Orbital in the backstage area prior to their headine set. They discussed their live return, but also revealed that there are no plans for a new album.

The Hartnoll brothers headlined the main stage on Saturday, using Ableton Live and Jazzmutant’s Lemur as the focal points of their setup.

The DJ booth at the Rizla stage. “No, I haven’t got any burgers…”

Help the homeless… and get yourself a festival programme.

The Coop Tent was a new addition for The Big Chill 2009, and hosted both music and comedy. Note the slightly incongruous disco ball.

For something big but not necessarily chilled, why not try a late-night beats session at The Castle Stage?

Poppy electronica three-piece Archipelago played a couple of acoustic sets.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you: in this most dismal of UK summers, there was actually some sun.

AL-PHA-X (AKA Declan Flynn) leaves the crowds behind and gets back to nature.

With his dreamy soundscapes, Alucidnation (AKA Bruce Bickerton) can brighten even cloudy skies.

And the award for ‘The least accessible helter skelter in the world’ goes to…

Sneaky (right) played a Friday afternoon set on the main stage....

If you ever forgot where you were, this sign was on hand to give you a bit of a clue.

Mr Scruff sat down with MusicRadar to talk production, DJing and – most importantly – tea.

Look at his hands and you’ll see that this wicker man is actually playing a giant invisible wicker piano.

Now this is what you want at a festival: the sun sets over the Herefordshire countryside and, for another year, on The Big Chill.