Case study
Festival Buddy at Camper Calling 2026
Camper Calling is a family festival held 27–30 August 2026. Festival Buddy was not the official app. It was an independent app that people found through Facebook groups and friends, and 1,471 of them used it over the weekend. This is what happened.
Festival Buddy is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Camper Calling.
- 1,471people used it
- 36,425app opens
- 4.8 / 5average rating
- 92%want it official
4.8 out of 5 from 63 people who used it, in our post-festival survey
The numbers
One weekend, measured.
- People who used it
- 1,471973 iPhone · 496 Android
- App opens over the festival
- 36,425
- Busiest day
- 866 people8,503 opens
- Time in app, combined
- 22 days
- Acts added to personal lineups
- 11,957
- Coverage of the bill
- 85 of 85Every act appeared in someone’s lineup
- Survey rating
- 4.8 / 563 responses, nothing below 4
- Want it made official
- 92%58 of 63
Server telemetry, computed 1 September 2026, and a 63-response survey run 31 August to 2 September. No attendance figure is claimed; we do not know it.
2025 to 2026
Second year, same field.
The app ran at the same festival in 2025 in a simpler form. In 2026 it added personal lineups, clash warnings and post-set ratings, and word got round.
- App opens
- 1,565 → 36,425
- Time in app
- 2d 10h → 22d
“Thought it was good last year, but so many better features this year! Thank you 🙏”
What people used it for
The grid, the stage list, and the field with no signal.
Asked which two features mattered most, people picked the grid schedule first and the By Stage view second, with On Now third. Asked for any other comments, the things that came up again and again, unprompted, were that it worked with no signal, that it beat the printed programme (which got lost or wet), and that the artist write-ups helped people decide.
“Found the app very useful, particularly in the wet weather when trying to get the paper one out was impossible. It’s so easy to use and could see straight away who was on when/where”
“Really useful to see what’s on at each time. Much better than the ‘official’ leaflet!!”
“I found the app schedule really helpful, especially as everyone else in my group either lost their paper programme (or it got wet)”
“I liked the description of the artists, I used these to explain to my husband any new artists.”
“Loved the write up on the acts to help decide what we wanted to see.”
“It was a god send with no signal, so glad I downloaded it. Much appreciated”
Ratings
The bit most people missed.
The app has two ways to rate: stars on an artist before, and “How was this set?” after. Many respondents did not realise there were two, which is a design fault we own, not a user one. Those who found the after-set prompt liked it. Two ways to rate, explained.
“I loved the prompt to rate the artist after I had watched them all. I did this each morning whilst reflecting on the previous day.”
“Really helpful way to check who was on and loved the clashes pop up when you added something to your lineup”
What went wrong
Honestly.
- The lineup reverted to 2025 mid-weekend for six people. Closing and reopening the app brought it back.
- Grid ordering was inconsistent. Sometimes alphabetical, sometimes by stage size. One consistent order is on the list.
- Reminders were there, but people missed them. The app can remind you before an act in your lineup, yet reminders were the single most requested feature. Making them obvious is first on the list.
- Onboarding is thin. One person told us they had no idea the app did all it does, and used it less than they could have. A first-run tour is coming.
“Not to need to rotate your phone up see the schedule. It also went to 2025 a few times and I had to close the app and reload. Only minor things as the app itself it 10/10!”
Should it be official?
58 of 63 said yes.
We asked whether people would like to see the app made official and adopted by the festival. 92% said yes. The one condition people attached was that it stays as it is: no adverts, no promotional filler.
“It would be great for it to be adopted as an official app, but only if it stays in its current form. I wouldn’t want it to be pumped full of ads or promotional content (if that would even work with the lack of signal).”
“Hope this gets adopted by CC and others . Thank you”
This is the survey’s question, quoted. It is not a claim that Camper Calling has adopted or endorsed the app.
How they found it
Facebook and friends, almost entirely.
Nearly everyone found the app through a festival Facebook group or someone they knew, not through an app store search. That is why an official listing, a mention in the programme and a link in the festival’s own channels would change the numbers above considerably.
“Advertised more, I didnt know about it until I was there”
Your festival next?
The app is built and on both stores. Backstage is ready for your team. Send us last year’s lineup and we will show you it loaded.