We received a copy of Lee Martin’s rollercoaster ride through the world of festival management last year, and are posting a review of ‘Festival of Love and Pain’ in good time for Lakefest 2025, the main subject of the book.

This year’s event promises a fresh rainbow of musical talent and loads of other fun too. It’s certainly the friendliest music festival I’ve ever been to, and I have the story to prove it (for another day). No longer local to the area, make mine an Airstream De Luxe ticket for 2025, please!

Why the book review though? Because Lee is one of the warmest, wittiest and kindest people we know and this book is written straight from the heart.

“Word hard, be kind – amazing things will follow.”

It’s an ongoing adventure in the world of entertainment that edged its creator right down the proverbial fine line, to the borders of breakdown, both physically and mentally, and Lee deserves a lift for keeping the show on the road, time and again, come what may.

Resilience, persistence and an infectious sense of humour are key to his success. Here we have a very personal behind the scenes look at the trials, tribulations and triumphs of running a successful music festival. The book is in a format that is easy to read and filled with tips for any wannabe festival or music event organisers. It’s a touching and searingly honest account of Lee’s experiences since he first set up Lakefest, from its earliest incarnation in 2010 and the first fully fledged festival in 2012.

I was surprised to find the first few chapters covering Lee’s family roots, childhood and personal and business development. As reading progressed though, these pages provided a meaningful insight into the kind of entrepreneurial personality that is destined to succeed, and succeed he does, learning the hard way, from mistakes and life’s inevitable curveballs.

These experiences prove to be both humbling and empowering, with Lee proferring motivating sound bites in each chapter. Some of these seem particularly resonant in a world that has become marred by the ‘manosphere’. Here we have clear, simple messages for survival, especially for those struggling to formulate a healthy level of identity, whether in terms of masculinity or as a small to medium size business leader, male, female or everything in between.

Get into sport it can carry you through the bad times

Sport may not rock your boat, but music certainly can. Further on, chapters cover compliance (yes, seriously), burglary, fraud and bankruptcy issues, water shortages and drought. Happy customers, family fun, cracking sounds, superlative superstars, and sunshine days in fields, soaking up positive vibes, with friends and family, are never far away. This is an in depth but lightly written and lighthearted account, which crosses from the personal to the practical. It’s as engaging and as generous as Lee himself, a great read for anyone who loves music, as well as those who want to glean some tips about retaining sanity under pressure, or becoming a successful entrepreneur.

“If you aren’t in over your head you won’t know how tall you are.”

To buy a copy of Lee Martin’s ‘Festival of Love and Pain’ visit the Lakefest website‘s Info pages, and while you’re online, you might even find tickets to this year’s festival, also recommended. Rock’n’roll!

Lakefest dinosaur