Glastonbury may be over but the festival season is only just beginning. All across the country, festivals of all sizes are bringing together music lovers from all over the world to enjoy beautiful music in the great outdoors – through wind, rain, sun and showers. Festival-goers are a hardy bunch, ever-ready to hitch up the wellies and pull on another jumper when the weather turns. It’s a liberating ethos that makes for some unforgettable memories. But for all that – how many of us haven’t made a secret prayer to the sun Gods on the third day of an unforgivingly chilly August? We may be too proud to admit it, but I think there are few of us who can honestly say that a bit of extra heat wouldn’t have made our experience a little more enjoyable on those occasions when our stiff upper lips are buried beneath unseasonable scarves. A comfortable level of heat for musicians, audience, tech crews, vendors and festival-goers alike could make the difference between a poorly attended gig and a show-stopping performance that will be remembered by all as an unforgettable evening’s entertainment.
Today the range and diversity of festivals across the UK is truly staggering – with large and small events catering for all demographics and all musical tastes. With a wide range of festivals comes a wide range of heating requirements. The classic image of an energetic rock band sweating under the heavy lighting of a massive central stage is only one aspect of today’s festival scene. Smaller festivals, intimate stages and more sedate performances are more vulnerable to the capricious fancy of the elements – where it’s not only rain that can make a set a struggle to complete.
Imagine the scene: it’s twilight, at the bend of a river, and a lone singer stands on a secluded stage in front of a closely packed audience of avid indie folk connoisseurs. She picks out an intricate melody on a battered twelve-string as her thin summer dress ripples in the breeze, a picture of pastoral serenity – but she’s really wishing she’d worn a jumper. Performing in exposed outdoor locations is not always an easy matter, especially for lone acoustic artists, and a touch of heat is sometimes all that’s needed to help them concentrate on their music – rather than the goosebumps on their arms! For small stages such as these our budget wall mounted patio heaters make an ideal choice. Intense directed heat warms regardless of gusts of wind and the motion of the air, in the same way a campfire provides warmth on a cold night. Infrared patio heaters provide heat almost instantaneously, with a fast-acting on / off switch which is perfect for stages with a diverse line up – the acrobatic hip-hop artist due to play after our folk singer may not want the extra heat! The low glare of the heaters also provides an evocative lighting effect when the sun goes down, framing the stage with a smouldering fiery glow.
Larger stages can also need heating, especially in the more exposed locations which are becoming increasingly popular for contemporary festivals. Open hillsides, fields at the foot of mountains and cliff top farm settings can become bitterly cold with an obstinate wind and a sudden drop in temperature. Less energetic acts such as orchestral bands, choir groups and acoustic acts may find it more difficult to perform with numb fingers, shivery shoulders and cold feet. Heating larger stages is a more serious proposition which requires powerful, energy efficient, controllable heaters that will be economical to run. Our range of No Glare electric patio heaters use Far Infrared – the most energy efficient form of infrared which is easily absorbed into the body so can provide comfort heating at a lower wattage than conventional patio heaters. With ceiling and wall mounted electric patio heaters using Far Infrared, you can keep any size stage cosy without breaking the bank. Our Herschel Infrared IRP4 electric heater can heat an area of up to 36m2 – so there really are options for the most expansive sets!
When the artists are struggling with the cold, it’s likely that the audience will be getting chilly too. Of course, there’s something special about fighting the festival weather together – groups of friends piling onto a picnic blanket as a pack, cuddling up in thick socks, jumpers and scarves. But however committed we are to embracing our brothers and sisters in shared spiritual affection, after a few hours sat out in the cold even the hardiest of us will start thinking wistfully of our sleeping bags. For smaller venues in walled gardens, hedged areas or fenced enclosures, wall mounted electric patio heaters will fit securely and provide an inviting avenue of warmth, allowing your audience to relax and enjoy the music in cosy comfort. For large and open spaces, freestanding patio heaters provide focal points of warmth around which your guests can gather together to watch the music undisturbed by cold. Available in a range of sizes, with discrete options which won’t obstruct the stage, our free-standing electric patio heaters can provide areas of warmth of up to 42m2 – ideal for those breezy festival fields. With the natural heat of infrared, festival heating isn’t an unnecessary indulgence – it recreates the primitive intimacy of gathering around sources of heat.
All our outdoor infrared heating systems can be powered from eco-friendly electricity, so if you’re using turbines and solar panels you can keep everyone comfortable with confidence in your green ethos. Easy DIY installation available on most of our products is another benefit of infrared festival heating – easy to install, easy to take down and re-use another year, it’s an economical solution which doesn’t require permanent fitting.
For more information about our infrared heating products and guidance on how to incorporate them into your outdoor venture, give us a call today on 0330 880 8383. Our friendly sales team are experts in heating restaurants, gardens and other outdoor locations and will be delighted to explain how our products work and give you a free quote.
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Eco Stores Direct are here to bring you the very latest energy news, views and opinions from across the UK. They are also suppliers of energy efficient electric heating solutions and are constantly assessing the market for the best products and the latest ground-breaking technology which they think will make a real difference to their customer’s homes. Eco Stores Direct are devoted to helping you reduce your carbon footprint and bring down your energy bills and they work hard to raise awareness of energy efficient products that can make all the difference. If you’re interested in outdoor patio heaters or slimline infrared panels, call Infrared Heaters Direct today on 0330 300 8383 for a free assessment.