A back garden festival that became something bigger. 2006–2015.
The Story
LeeFest began on 31 August 2006 in the back garden of founder Lee Denny's family home in Beckenham, South London. Lee was just 16 years old when his parents went on holiday and banned him from having a house party — so he decided to throw a festival instead.
That first year, seven bands played on a small stage to 150 friends, with all proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust. The following year, 350 people attended, raising money for Save The Children.
By 2008, the festival had outgrown the garden and moved to fields near Langley Park School for Boys (600 attendees). In 2009, over 1,500 people attended with 70 volunteers, and profits went to Kids Company.
From 2010, LeeFest found its home at Highams Hill Farm, growing to 2,500 capacity by 2014.
Award-Winning
Best Grassroots Festival
UK Festival Awards 2009
Best Independent Festival
AIM Independent Music Awards 2012
As Featured In
"A fantastic unpretentious party vibe"
The Guardian, "Ten Best Small UK Festivals", May 2010
"Lee's story has been compared to that of Michael Eavis who started Glastonbury"
BBC Radio 1
"The ultimate party"
NME
"A fantastic unpretentious party vibe"
The Guardian, "Ten Best Small UK Festivals", May 2010
"Lee's story has been compared to that of Michael Eavis who started Glastonbury"
BBC Radio 1
"The ultimate party"
NME
Additional coverage:
BBC Radio 6 Music • BBC News • ITV News • Time Out London • London Tonight
The Posters
Artists Who Played LeeFest
Many of these artists played LeeFest before achieving mainstream success — the festival became known for discovering breakthrough talent.
Headliners & Major Acts
Photo Gallery
LeeFest x Android
In November 2015, LeeFest became the subject of a major television advertisement for Google's Android operating system, part of their acclaimed "Be Together. Not the Same." campaign.
The 60-second commercial, created by adam&eveDDB, told the true story of LeeFest — how a 16-year-old's rebellion against his parents' house party ban sparked something that grew into one of the UK's most beloved independent festivals. The ad featured the track "Get Up" by Elektrons.
The campaign was widely praised, with industry publications naming it among the best adverts of 2015 for its authentic storytelling and understanding of its target audience.
Android Campaign Video
Replace with YouTube/Vimeo embed when available
What Came Next
After a decade of LeeFest, the festival evolved into something new. In 2018, the event was rebranded as Neverworld Festival, carrying forward the spirit of independence, discovery, and community that defined LeeFest from day one.
Visit Neverworld Festival →