Review of Ibiza Summertime Live Windsor: The first festival post lockdown

I didn't think it would be possible to go to a festival this year, what with Coronavirus still clutching on, but on Saturday I did and it was absolutely great.

Cancelled last year because of the pandemic, this year's Ibiza Summertime Live festival saw thousands of people turn up on Saturday at Windsor Racecourse, with strict rules on Covid testing still in place.

Everyone had to prove they had a negative lateral flow test or had immunity to the virus, which put my mind at ease.

Those who had been double jabbed with the second vaccine at least 14 days prior to the event were also allowed entry.

It made me feel safer knowing that I can dance the night away without having to worry about other people so much.

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Yet, the rules on social distancing have been so ingrained in my brain that I didn't let anyone come near my group. It was just me and my girlfriends enjoying life once again.

I dusted off my Doc Marten's and stepped foot onto the grassy field of Windsor Racecourse, ready to relish the party experience and dance my socks off to classic anthems.

We were like children in a candy shop, excitedly running over to check out the glitter stall before eyeing up the bars to see which drinks were on offer.

The Ferris wheel was marked as our 'if we get lost after too many drinks' point. You've got to be responsible after all.

Once we established how we will keep ourselves safe in amongst the thousands of strangers, we turned our noses towards the food to keep tabs on what will be our lifesaver at the end of the night.

We picked up our drinks and darted to the main stage, where songs from the 2000s brought back a sense of nostalgia.

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They played recent hits like my favourite Sweet Nothing by Florence and The Machine and Calvin Harris and classics from Fat Boy Slim.

One-hit-wonder Sonique blew the crowd away with her performance of It Feels So Good.

The stage lit up as night fell and the atmosphere felt electric. More songs kept us alive as we busted questionable dance moves without a care in the world.

Then The Prodigy's Firestarter came on and I wholeheartedly blame this song for causing me the most painful blisters from my shoes. I danced like crazy to this.

But it was all totally worth it.

I have spent most part of my 20s stuck within the four walls of my home, a time of my life where I should be enjoying the world and experiencing new things.

Going to a festival gave me a sense of normality again even though we still have a long way to go with Covid.

However, the most positive thing I can take away from this experience was the effect it has had on my mental health.

Dancing itself causes your body to release endorphins — the chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers which serve to reduce stress and cause our bodies to feel calm, happy and optimistic.

If you're still not ready to experience festivals, dancing to songs in your kitchen can also have the same effect and release those positive endorphins.

And you have the added bonus of dancing like nobody is watching.