HE sun blessed Blissfields Festival this year, where the mixed crowd was up for it and the atmosphere was fantastic.

Kicking off on the Friday afternoon, revellers trickled in to the festival – back in Paul and Mel Bliss’ back garden at Bradley Farm, near Alresford – to set up camp and soak up the evening rays, listening to a mix of live music on the Main Stage, bopping at the Bubble Bus and generally letting their hair down ready for the weekend ahead.

The Friday highlight for me came at dusk with folky, country band Mumford and Sons. This group of talented musicians were strumming all manner of string instruments, led by frontman Marcus Mumford, who was continuously swapping instruments throughout the set, with a stint on the drums.

Mumford’s slow drawl when speaking to the crowd did not detract from the band’s clear love and enthusiasm for their music, which was infectious.

Thankfully, the end of their set was not the end of their involvement in the festival, as Mumford members stayed on to support headline act Laura Marling.

Clutching her acoustic guitar, the singer-songwriter projected an effortlessly beautiful voice to a crowd now tuned in to the folky vibe, and Mumford, now on the drums, worked stunningly, singing in harmony with Marling.

Although the sets may have worked better the other way around – as the Mercury Prize nominee is not quite as comfortable speaking to the crowd and getting them going – she put on a great performance and left her audience in no doubt she was happy to be there.

As her set drew to a close, the night was yet young for the 1,200 revellers who partied until the early hours with only a short distance to stumble to their tents – the benefit of a smaller festival.

Day two and the bins were fuller, the toilets smellier and the crowds rosier – but not just from the sun.

The costumes were out in force on a theme of The United States of Bliss – with Greek goddesses, Hawaiian grass-skirts and a bizarre trio of leeks among the fancy dress spectacle.

An afternoon of memorable sets – including the likes of folky band Cherbourg and British rockers The Men They Couldn’t Hang – led up to Blissfields regulars Subgiant.

Mixing samples and decks with live guitars and blaring out dance, trance, techno and more besides, the Southampton guys had the crowd raring to go by the time the sun was setting and it was time for headline act the Super Furry Animals (SFA).

With over a dozen albums to choose songs from, the Welsh rockers hopped around but played a number of tunes from their new album Dark Days/Light Years, including The Very Best of Neil Diamond and Flip Flops.

Even the fair chunk of the crowd unfamiliar with SFA’s music got a regular giggle from Gruff Rhys’ “thank you very much” with a Welsh lilt at the end of most tracks, having held up a sign saying APPLAUSE.

Their set was cut short by Paul Bliss – pleading with the audience that he had the council on his doorstep – but any disappointment was short-lived as revellers made their way to the Bradley Bubble, the Bubble Bus or wherever their party was to continue.

Blissfields is a perfect place to break-in first-time festival-goers, where everyone is friends by the end.

The eclectic mix of people ranged from excited young kids running around, sitting on their parents’ shoulders and starting up communal games of tag, to groups of mates from just about every age bracket, each enjoying the festival in their own way.

One word sums up this festival. Blissful.