I set up Unorthodox Paradox in 2011, basically because I was dissatisfied with what was on offer at other small festivals around the UK – which invariably offered the same artists year on year, with bookers playing safe to guarantee ticket sales. In my mind there had to be a gap in the market for something a bit more adventurous, where the only thing guaranteed was the quality of the acts and production. I wanted to do something small and manageable, where the people attending would really feel like they were in on something special (because they were!). As luck would have it, the opportunity came up to use a remarkable and unique venue called Fellfoot Wood, a beautiful piece of managed woodland located on the banks of Lake Windermere. So each year, between 2011 and 2015, for 3 days each year Fellfoot Wood was home to my particular interpretation of what makes a great weekend. Every year we commissioned a huge sculpture which was  ceremonially burned at the height of the weekend, adding drama and theatre to the musical proceedings.

Our search for wonderful and unique venues also took us to The Bridges in Ratlinghope (2015), The Hollybush site in Hay-On-Wye (2016), ‘Paradox-on-Sea’ in Anglesey, and a couple of wonderful years much closer to home in Wormelow – but sadly our little festival is no more. However, Unorthodox Paradox may be dead, but keep your eyes open for ‘Microdox’, hopefully launching in 2026…

We had fantastic acts every year, with some random highlights including:

> One of the very first Henge gigs, now of course blowing minds with cosmic dross at festivals around the world
> Rose Kemp‘s last ever live performance with her band, incredibly intense!
> We Are The Physics reforming after 3 years especially to play for us
> Anklepants debut UK show outside of London, with no-one there knowing what to expect, least of all a robotic penis-face
> Tim Exile giving an incredible improvised performance using only his voice as source material when half of his software failed to work
> Black Lung travelling all the way from Australia for a very rare UK show

And and a whole host of other mind-blowing performances from artists as diverse as…

ZOFFF, Colossal Squid, Chrysalid Homo, Crayola Lectern, The Holy Family, Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer, The Sounds of Ursa, The Lovely Eggs, Modern Nature, Bending Shapes, ExP, Dactyl Terra, Chloe Herrington, Jet Pack Dog, Paul Morricone, The Owl Oscillation, Yama Warashi, Lachlan Werner, Craig Fortnam, HAQ123, Kendo Nagasaki, My Octopus Mind, Pram, Perhaps Contraption, Chemtrails, AK/DK, Alula Down, Burt Bacharackhams, Bell Lungs, Quincey May Brown, Cosmo, ChopChop, The Dollcanoes, The Flag Fen Project, Missda Vast, A Pig Called Eggs, Howie Reeve, Schnauzer, Shoun Shoun, Thick Richard, Pleasure Complex, Kavus Torabi, Paul Morricone, Adam Betts, Bob Drake, Ichi, Clowwns, Crayola Lectern, Sproatly Smith, ZOFFF, Modified Toy Orchestra, Worldservice Project, Arch Garrison, Michael Valentine West, The Gathering Doubt, Bellyeyesmile, Mank, Lucky, Right Hand Left Hand, Tube Jerk, Stereoscope, Broken Oak Duet, Ultrasound, Paddy Steer, Cursor Miner, Chris T-T and the Hoodrats, Satelliti, Misty’s Big Adventure, Alpha Male Tea Party, Barberos, STUFF, Evil Blizzard, Poisoned Electrick Head, The Display Team, Let’s Meet Jesus, Mother, Glowpeople, Nick Jonah-Davis, Night Trips, Haress, dbh, Bingo Harry, Tekla, The Monkey Poet, Black Lung, Super Best Friends Club, Dingus Khan, Hot Head Show, Horse Party, 7shades, The Courtesy Group, Henge, Emily & Angeline, Defunkt Dialekt, Ay!, The Nature Centre, Marc Constantine, The Spencers, Micronormous, Vault of Eagles, The Retro Spankees, Modulator ESP, The Scaramanga Six, White Blacula, 100% Beefcock and the Titsburster, Grandmaster Gareth, The Laze, Joel Harries, Plank, Krankschaft, Bruise, 72% Morrissey, Omnia Opera, Colossloth, Damrai Vent, a.P.A.t.T., Tall Ships, Kate Goes, The Retinal Circus, Jim Noir, Dog Food, Vert:x, Circulus, Lifecycle, Windscale, Jo Hamilton, Betty & The Id, Neko Neko, The Higher Craft, The Chinese Burn Society

Here’s some links of interest:

Official website – https://www.unorthodoxparadox.co.uk
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/TheUnorthodoxParadox/
Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheUnorthodoxParadox
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ParadoxEvent