The site for this year is really shaping up, here’s some photos by Tim Bastable of the site on Tuesday morning:

For more of Tim’s photos visit picasaweb.google.co.uk/crocodilepictures

At about 2pm today we crossed the Severn Bridge and entered Wales! When we awoke this morning it was to the hammering of torrential rain but as the day progressed the sun came out and it became very hot, particularly as we crossed the border!

As we got into Usk and headed upto site it felt really nice to be back knowing that in little over a weeks time we’ll be enjoying the festival. On site it was sunny and warm and the field was/is looking lush and green!

Adam, who’s family own the lad and who also helps run the Stagger Inn, greeted us as we pulled in and told us that he and the other lads who run the bar will be siphoning off the homemade cider later tonight! I’m told it’s gonna have a real kick, can’t wait to try some!

I’m currently using a mobile interweb dongle and it’s not the greatest of connections so i’ll keep this brief! Below are some photos of the site as it looks before we’ve started building up the festival!

Don’t forget to check the blogs each days as i’ll be uploading photos and letting you all know what we’re up to! Tomorrow; Site Plumbing!

Luke and the Neuf gang x

The Solar System arrives

Hey folks,

Just wanted to allay any fears that we might be cancelling the event this year. Rest assured we will not be closing the festival and that everything is still going ahead! I know that some of you were concerned after the unfortunate cancellation of events like the Big Green Gathering and Bloom recently.

Do not fear! CNSP 2009 is happening and we are working away to make it the best one yet! We head up on to site tomorrow (Wednesday) to start setting up and i’m gonna post a new photo in the blog each day so you can see it all going up and how we turn a field into a festival!

I also thought you’d like to check this out – http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/14days.asp?zipcode=np15%201hs

Fingers crossed that it comes true!

Anyway, must dash; lots to do while i’m still at the HQ before we head off to Wales!

Keep it cool!

Luke and Le Team Neuf x

RT @AreMad:Playing at my first festival at @PartyNeuf. Should be good! Follow @PartyNeuf for details

RT @ProphetRecords:Are-Mad & SertOne are going to be turning tables for @PartyNeuf. Its going to be big! 16th August, Usk, UK.

During last weeks site visit I took some time to catch up with Matt Jones of Bath and Bristol Tipis to have a chat about native american indian dwellings and festivals. Here’s what he had to say;

“We are really looking forward to being involved with the “Croissant Neuf Summer Party” as we have really enjoyed attending the festival in the past and of course they are also one of our favourite festival stages at Glastonbury.

We are now in our ninth year of hiring Native American Indian Tipis and we are still completely in love with these amazing structures. We hire all over the U.K. to many different events – including weddings, parties, corporate events and camping holidays. We pride ourselves on the service and standard of accommodation we offer to our customers. We moved from Bristol (hence the name!) to very near the festival site and now have very close links as our tipi poles are now sourced from the Usk Castle Estate.

Staying in such a majestic and magical structure is a truly amazing and relaxing experience and tipis provide the ideal informal gathering space to enjoy with friends and family.

Nothing can beat staying in a tipi and relaxing by the warmth of a crackling fire watching the wood smoke rise, yet on a hot sunny day the tipi will provide a cool, inviting and welcoming space in which to chill out and relax.

We are offering a range of tipi sizes for this years festival:
14ft tipi’s which will comfortably sleep 2/3 adults for £340.00
18ft tipi’s which will comfortably sleep 4/6 adults for £400.00
23ft tipis which will comfortably sleep up to 10 adults for £590.00

All will be luxuriously furnished with matting, colourful rugs, sheepskins, lanterns and a central fire. A “concierge” service to help with luggage and ensure comfort throughout is also included within the price. On top of this Croissants and Coffee will be served each morning to your tipi!
…see you at the festival.  Matt Jones.”

“Come and enjoy the real outdoor camping experience!”

For more information click here or here.

As we prepare all our kit for the Big Green Gathering I managed to catch up with Kieran O’Brien, one of the Croissant Neuf senior crew and Fire Performer, to have a brief chat about what this years CNSP holds!

Hi Kieran, what can we expect from this years CNSP?

“Sun! Maybe, we hope! Good music, great drink, an awesome new bandstand, 30’s and 40’s style swing dance and a rocked out hillbilly!”

Sounds like an eclectic mix! So what are you looking forward to most?

“The Communicators, one of the best Ska bands i’ve seen since, well ever! Oh, and the Friday night Pub Quiz which is always a raucous laugh, which last year I won a prize for being the loudest! Plus the quality fire show and the Bonfire which always has nice music and people jamming around it, I frickin’ love that!”

Lastly, what would you say to anyone who hasn’t been to the festival before?

“Get some fancy dress clothes together and a big group of friends, then come on down and spend the weekend having a really wicked time! Rubbing shoulders with some of the funniest and most brilliant people I’ve ever spent a festival with! Bring the family! It’s going to be top!”

There you have it! Keep checking back for more interviews with crew, performers and various other people over the coming weeks! Meanwhile click here for the full Line-Up

In full Pirate mode at Bo Nanafana Social Club

We took a day trip across the border yesterday (thursday) to make a site visit upto the hallowed turf of CNSP! The sun tried its best to come out for the day, which is considerably more than it did last year! All was well onsite, the grass was freshly mowed and gave the field a nice lawn feel and all the new roads and tracks that have been put in place were fully bedded in and will mean there’s much less chance of getting stuck (even though it wont be muddy this year!)

We also dropped off our new bandstand, some of you may have seen it at Glastonbury this year but those that havnt it’ll be a nice surprise for you all when you get onto site! Talking of surprises we’ve got some real corkers in store for you this year but you will just have to wait and see what they might be as we’re keeping tight lipped on that one!

The boys from the bar came up and gave us a sample of this years cider and I can exclusively say you are all in for a real treat and also a fairly heafty hangover if you drink lots of it! Matt from Bath and Bristol tipis also popped along and we had a nice chat about where we might place the tipis this year! There are still some available for hire here

Take a look at the photos below to see how the site looks before it gets transformed into the Summer Party!

EXCLUSIVE: The Solar Powered Podcast with Paolo Nutini: http://bit.ly/paolopod

The Solar Powered Podcast – Paolo Nutini from Croissant Neuf on Vimeo.

Exclusive footage from Paolo Nutini’s set in the Croissant Neuf Big Top @ Glastonbury 2009, including an introduction from the man himself – enjoy!