A Unique Festival Oasis in the Heart of Berkshire
On The Mount At Wasing took festival-goers by surprise last summer, and ahead of its return in June, we delve into what inspired its initial launch. There has always been something special about the Wasing Estate in the heart of the Berkshire countryside. One of the most diverse rural estates in England, Wasing is truly unique – a special place to celebrate, connect, grow, and heal. But we never saw it as the epicenter of festival season in the county, but then again, we didn’t have the vision of Ollie Rosenblatt.
A Vision Realized: The Allure of Wasing Estate
“The sheer beauty of it,” says the co-founder of live music behemoth, Senbla, on what caught his eye initially about Wasing. “The uniqueness of the space. The treescape creates an environment for live music that I haven’t seen anywhere else, as well as the holistic ethos of the estate that really feeds into the beauty of the surroundings. It’s a perfect place to come and see an artist.”
Overcoming Initial Challenges
On The Mount At Wasing was the concert series set in Wasing’s spectacular woodland amphitheater that surprised us all in 2023. “The first year always feels like a mountain to climb because you’re literally starting at zero with no assets of what it looks like in concert form and explaining to people where it is,” Ollie says last year. “But now people have come to know how special it is as a place to enjoy and engage in live music. I’m really happy as to how it was received.”
Senbla’s Musical Journey
It was yet another feather in the musical cap of Senbla. Ollie launched the company in 2011 and chuckles to himself when he looks back to that time. “A passion for music and a desire to be in control of my own destiny – as well as naivety!” he laughs about what inspired him. “But underpinned with total energy and passion to present music I love, be creative, and build a successful business. I wanted to offer a bespoke, hands-on, thoughtful approach to how we work with artists that are also creatively focused, looking at areas of the business to promote that other promoters aren’t in.”
It didn’t take long for that ethos to win others over. Looking at the events that put them on the map, Ollie rounds off: “Nigel Kennedy’s shows early on, our Burt Bacharach shows, our film with live orchestra touring shows, our TV A Life In Song shows Including Quincy Jones, Tim Rice, and Don Black. There have been many highs and lows along the way. That’s part of the joy and the stress of promoting shows. Promoting can be the most uplifting and joyous jobs and the most heartbreaking.”
A Joyous Experience
Luckily, On The Mount At Wasing slots into the joyous category. Building on what was achieved last year, the 2024 line-up looks like a corker. Australian rock icons Crowded House will kick off the shows on 17 June, Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini will perform on 18 June, London electronic duo Jungle will perform with their explosive full live band on 27 June, and dance icons Underworld will headline on 29 June. Wasing Estate will also present Solstice On The Mount on 20 June: an immersive celebration of world music and culture with headliners Nick Mulvey & Rodrigo y Gabriela.
A Transportive Venue in Nature’s Embrace
The Mount is a stunning enclave right in the heart of the countryside. From the woodland trail arrival into a unique and mindful space to the wildflowers awaiting concertgoers within the amphitheater, this is a truly transportive venue to see defining live acts, fully immersed in nature. “When you’re watching an act surrounded by the amazing treescape that appears after you’ve walked the trail through the spectacular woodland into the venue, you get a truly soul-nourishing experience – all of the artists commented how beautiful and unique it was performing at Wasing,” Ollie adds.
Crowded House: Enduring Rock Legends
With a career that spans almost 40 years, Crowded House has enjoyed worldwide success. They have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, and in 2016, the band was inducted into the ARIA – Australian Recording Industry Association – Hall of Fame. Crowded House has also won several national and international awards, including being named International Group of the Year at the BRIT Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. They will release their new album, Gravity Stairs, on 31 May 2024.
Paolo Nutini: Soulful Scottish Sensation
In 2022, Paolo Nutini returned with the release of his fourth album, Last Night in the Bittersweet, which went straight to No.1 on the UK Album Chart. The album contained huge singles Through The Echoes, Lose It, and Petrified in Love, and is certified Gold in the UK.
Jungle: Electronic Trailblazers
Jungle is one of the hottest names to emerge in British electronic music for the past decade. The duo comprising Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland was shortlisted for the 2014 Mercury Prize with their debut self-titled album. Their fourth album, VOLCANO, was released to critical acclaim earlier this year alongside a feature-length film of the same name. The single Back on 74 became a huge hit, going viral with over a billion views across TikTok and Instagram, inspired by its dynamic music video that millions are recreating.
Underworld: Techno Pioneers
Underworld is a true one-off. They are just as at home headlining the world’s biggest festivals and events, playing underground techno clubs and warehouses, soundtracking theatre productions, or taking over art galleries.
Having cemented their place in the ’90s underground techno scene, the group’s definitive breakthrough came in 1995 with the release of timeless anthem Born Slippy (Nuxx), which became the soundtrack of a generation when it was featured in the film Trainspotting. The success of that single catapulted the band from the underground into the heart of the mainstream. The following three decades saw them build on that success while never compromising: selling millions of albums, performing countless sold-out shows, providing scores to productions by Academy Award-winning directors Anthony Minghella and Danny Boyle, exhibiting in galleries, and soundtracking the Opening Ceremony to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
“The production values and lighting of Underworld will be incredible in the surrounding treescape,” Ollie adds when we finish going through the line-up. “The intimacy as well as the energy of the site too will work so well for the other acts, and I think they will really get the most from being on the site too and be in tune with its ethos. I think the audience experience of first going through the woodland trail, the beauty of the surrounding area, and then especially when you enter the main arena area, is just breathtaking and such a beautiful experience.” And may we add a unique one too?
Visit the Wasing Estate website for more information and tickets.
