Happy International Women’s Day 2020
The Women of Noz Talk Female Inspiration, Festival Essentials and Secret Talents
This International Women’s Day we’re celebrating some of the boss-ass females that produce, co-ordinate, build and promote this weird & wonderful festival.
Our festi-family is made up of so many inspirational women that are leaders in their field (excuse the pun), so we thought we’d ask some of them a few questions to give you a small insight into the incredible work that they do and what makes them tick. Warning: there’s a tear-jerking outpouring of love from Roisin at the end, have your tissues at the ready.
Ella Nosworthy
Role: Creative Director
What’s your favourite memory of Nozstock?
It was years ago, maybe 2007 and a band called The Anomalies were playing on Orchard Stage. Their set was amazing and they pulled a huge crowd. The biggest I’d seen at the festival at that point. I remember dancing, having a great time and turning and seeing how many people were watching them. It was such a lovely moment, feeling so proud of what we had created that was being enjoyed by so many. Bought it home that all the hard work was worth it.
What makes you love your job at Nozstock?
Roisin and Maddie, my music management team.
What’s your secret talent?
I do a mean rendition of “2 Unlimited – No Limits” on the recorder.
Who is your female inspiration and why?
I’m a history nerd so I love Elizabeth I. She was a woman who survived and thrived in a man’s world.
Kate Cox
Role: Co-founder, Director & Manager of Cabinet of Lost Secrets since 2015
What’s your favourite memory of Nozstock?
I have 2 : Akil from Jurassic 5 doing a secret set in the Cabinet -OR- Dancing to Disco Panther on the main stage in the sun many years ago….
What makes you love your job at Nozstock?
I love being part of Nozstock because we really are one big family. There’s so much love between us all. Being on site for a couple weeks with all these amazing people is a special time and I’m always so sad to leave the farm when it’s all over.
What would be your desert island disk?
Currently this would be an old Cinematic Orchestra track called Horizons. It’s a massively empowering tune that always makes me feel buzzing and strong!
Emily Priestly
Role: I’m one of the general site decor managers, this will be my 8th year (whoa) and we do all those bits between the stages.
What’s your favourite memory of Nozstock?
The year JFB played, I think it was also the year I had 8 meals in ONE day.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Nozstock 2020?
I cannot wait for Sister Sledge, legends.
What are your 3 festival essentials?
Dry shampoo, reusable bottle and salt and vinegar squares (perfect for hangovers)
Anna McCully Stewart
Role: I’m the Comedy Manager at Nozstock. I also help out with the Theatre stage and help put together the Nozstock print programme. I started in the stellar Noz admin team in 2014 and I’ve been working in the Department of Cultural Affairs for the last few years.
What makes you love your job at Nozstock?
It’s so different from the 9 – 5 desk job I do the rest of the year. For a week or so in the summer I get to roam around a farm with a walkie-talkie, sleeping in a tent, subsisting mainly on food van delicacies, working in this massive, amazing team to make a whole festival happen… what’s not to love?
What’s your secret talent?
I’m really good at headstands.
What are your 3 festival essentials?
Somehow I always forget to bring the essentials and end up sleeping on a deflated air mattress atop a crushed box of cereal bars bought in a moment of optimism at Bromyard Co-op. However I do get really bad hayfever so I’m always packing antihistamines, loads of tissues, and a torch (for finding tissues in my tent in the dark).
Rachael Franzen-Dean
Role: I started my Noz career as an Admin Intern last year, and now I’m Nozstock’s Marketing Assistant.
What are your 3 festival essentials?
Earplugs, eye mask and a blowup mattress. Getting a good few hours of solid sleep is EVERYTHING! Oh, and a tinny of cider.
What’s your secret talent?
I can do a pretty good moonwalk…
Who is your female inspiration and why?
It’s got to be Greta Thunberg, I’m completely in awe of what she’s doing to address the climate crisis at the moment. Plus, she’s only 17. She’s inspired me to look at my own carbon contribution to the environment and try to reduce it where I can. Oh and Dolly Parton. Dolly is so bloody great.
Caitlin Clark
Role: Press Assistant and Feedback Manager, and this will be my third year at Nozstock.
What are your 3 festival essentials?
Spare socks, cuppa soups and dry shampoo!
Who is your female inspiration and why?
My female inspiration is Carrie Fisher. She always spoke her mind, never took any shit and managed to bag Harrison Ford. Truly life goals.
What makes you love your job at Nozstock?
My job at Nozstock is great, because I get to share with people exactly why I love the festival. Introducing press to artists they admire and sharing new experiences with new people in the county that I grew up in is the greatest feeling in the world!
Roisin Crowley Linton
Role: Music Management / Festival Coordination! Basically hanging round the office problem, solving problems by radio-ing other people who actually know what they’re doing to come and solve the problem.
What are your 3 festival essentials?
Uhhhh, for anyone with curls – dry shampoo, spray water bottle to refresh and a wide toothed comb to get out the ratty nest on top of your head from using a pile of hoodies as a pillow because you only packed hair accessories and glitter?
What’s your secret talent?
I’m really really really good at spelling. This hasn’t given me an edge since year 6 but if I was American i’d be a spelling bee CHAMPION.
Who is your female inspiration and why?
Too many! But for a few – Julie Noz for being ever warm and welcoming whilst taking no shit, she made Nozstock into the party where everyone is invited so we must all remember to thank Julie! Ella Noz for being patient and kind in times where I’d have closed the office door in peoples faces and Toki Noz for breaking barriers, being a complete all rounder (what can’t that woman do?) and managing to fit more into a week than I do in a year and they all always have a gin ready when you need it most. None of them realise quite how brilliant they are but I’m so glad I had them as role models when I was growing up and developing my own career.
