Wickham Festival News

Record-breaking Wickham Festival

Wickham Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn has hailed this year’s record-breaking event as the best yet.

Box office records were smashed with more than 25,000 people flocking to the picturesque site to see the Proclaimers, 10cc, Billy Bragg and 80 other acts over four gloriously sunny days.

Never too young to rock at Wickham Festival
Never too young to rock at Wickham Festival

 

The hot weather saw fans drink the site dry with beer running out just before last orders on the final night – and the event has already received a record number of bookings for next year.

Chegwyn said: “This has been a record-breaking festival in every sense. It has easily been our best year – the question now is how do we top it?

“We have broken all box office records, the traders did great business, we have record renewals for next year and we even drank the bar dry – and yet there was still not a hint of trouble or rowdy behaviour.

“This is the most successful festival I have run in 25 years. The new VIP area was a big success and all the car parks and campsites were full. It has truly been a bumper year.

“We were blessed with glorious weather which makes a big difference. It is almost as though someone was smiling on us this year.young

“We have had a fantastic reaction from the fans. We have had huge crowds and they have loved it. Once again, we have had no crime and no problems.

“People must have enjoyed it because so many have already booked for next year before they even know the line-up. But they know the atmosphere will be just as good and they trust us to have a good bill.

“That is a real vote of confidence but it is the reason why fans come back year after year. For many people it is the highlight of their year and from my point of view it is wonderful to see so many smiling faces.”

Rock legend Tom Robinson said: “It has been a fantastic festival and I am delighted for Peter Chegwyn who is truly a legend in this area. He is a one-off and people are very lucky to have him.

“The atmosphere here is wonderful and the reaction from the fans was amazing. I was quite moved by it.”

Tom Robinson rocking at Wickham Festival
Tom Robinson rocking at Wickham Festival

Craig Reid from the Proclaimers added: “This is the third time we have been to this event and we love it. It has a great feel about the place and people just have the best time.”

Steve Harley raised the canvas of the Big Top with a rousing version of Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) and said: “That was a fantastic reaction from the fans, definitely one of the best. They really got it and it is a wonderful feeling to see them respond in that way.”

Listen to our audio interviews here.

The event was also good for the village with business booming as fans stocked up with supplies or sampled the local wares.

Chegwyn added: “This festival has really put Wickham on the map. Now we are becoming well known we have top acts asking to play here rather than us chasing them.

“And it has been great for business locally. The site is perfectly placed because it is in a picturesque rural setting yet just 10 minutes walk from the pretty village so the shops have done a roaring trade.

“Wickham is the little village with big ideas and we have had a lot of positive feedback from people all around the world. We pride ourselves on our friendly, family feel – and once again we have delivered.”

Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 Wickham Festival priced just £100 for a weekend ticket, (a saving of £50 if booked before the end of August) from The Festival Office, 51 Russell Street, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 3JD. (Cheques payable to ‘Wickham Festivals Ltd’. Please enclose an s.a.e.). Or click here

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    Ireland's John McSherry, one of the finest Uilleann pipers in the world today, is newly confirmed for this year's Wickham Festival. John will appear on Sat. 3rd Aug. accompanied by Brendan Quinn & Francis McIlduff. johnmcsherry.com/#bio www.youtube.com/watch?v=5khv0CbyKH0 ... See MoreSee Less

    17 hours ago

    6 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Day & Weekend tickets now onsale via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets

    Can I ask, Should we have received our tickets yet? Thanks 🎶

    Oh yesss 👌👌👌👌👌👍

    My kind of music

    Oh WOW!

    A wonderful addition to the festival. Thank you

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    Were very sorry to hear that Steve Harley has died.  He appeared many times at Wickham, usually with his own band but also with Spike Edneys SAS Band.  He always gave a great show and was always a pleasure to work with.  Were so sad to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

    We're very sorry to hear that Steve Harley has died. He appeared many times at Wickham, usually with his own band but also with Spike Edney's SAS Band. He always gave a great show and was always a pleasure to work with. We're so sad to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to his family. ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago

    58 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Here's a backstage interview which Steve gave to our Festival Press Officer Graham Hiley in 2018. It's a great interview. Do give it a listen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJh3FjE2Vro

    Very sad to hear this. Loved seeing him at Wickham.

    Heartbreaking news; Steve’s music has been ( and will remain) very much a part of our lives. Our thoughts are with his family. RIP Steve, you will be missed ♥️

    We saw him at Wickham he was brilliant despite having to sit for the performance as he had leg or hip problems! Didn't affect the energy of his set! Sad loss!

    Always great to see - will be missed

    Very sad news. I’m glad we saw him a couple of times in recent years at Wickham. A great performer. Sadly missed

    So so sad about the passing away of Steve Harley. A fantastic performer, wonderful wordsmith, funny, endearing and talked to the audience like we were in his front room.. saw him several times, but very fond memories of his sets at Wickham. So glad I got to see him many times. Xxxxx ❤️ ❤️

    Noooo! He was so lovely. RIP you came up and made me smile.

    So sorry 😔 He stirred such emotion when I saw him at Wickham, a true and great artist ❤️

    Very sad - we loved seeing him at Wickham Music Festival :(

    So sad to hear this news. I saw him at Wickham in 2015, a great artist and performer. Deepest sympathies to his loved ones 💛

    We were there at his last Wickham gig and also a more recent intimate theatre gig nearer to home, just last year. Very different but loved both. A brilliant performer and a very nice guy. Will be sadly missed. 😢

    Heartbreaking news.

    Devastated! One of my all time favourites. RIP Steve.😪

    So sad, he was brilliant there a few years ago, one of the very best highlights of the festival 💔

    Still hear “make me smile” almost daily on the radio. Such a brilliant uplifting song and his voice was amazing. Sad sad loss to the music industry. RIP Steve

    Very sad loss Peter ..Great music

    It's truly heartbreaking. He was wonderful and will be greatly missed

    Oh how sad. My younger years sounds which I loved . 🙏💕

    Thanks for sharing.Very sad news.Yes very sad. Back in the 1990s he headlined several of our Heineken (freebie) Big Top festivals.Always great to work with backstage and a real crowd- pleaser.

    Sad news. Great forever songs to remember him by. Condolences to his family and friends.x

    Very sad 😢 loved seeing his shows - a joy! Cx

    Legend I hope he’s being a rebel in spirit and makes the spirits smile ❤️🥺

    Lucky enough to see him twice at Wickham (once with his band and once with the SAS Band). A sad day :(

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    Steve Harley was an audience favourite at Wickham Festival, and a delight to work with. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

    Steve Harley: Cockney Rebel singer dies at 73

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68590846

    The Saw Doctors would like to say a Big Thanks to everybody who has bought or streamed ‘All We Love’ today —the new single is Number 3 in Ireland and No. 23 in the UK. Here’s the link to buy or stream ‘All We Love’   
    https://orcd.co/allwelove

    Wonderfully evocative and typically catchy song from our old friends @sawdoctors ready for #StPatricksDay
    Would love to hear them do this at #wickhamfesival one day. Great stuff!

    Our new line-up inc. Curtis Stigers with a few more artists inc. Jerry Douglas to add. We hope to unveil last confirmed artists inc. one more headliner soon. Day & Tier 4 Weekend tickets selling fast. Save £50 on every 4-day weekend ticket. Book now. http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk

    We're delighted to announce that 16-times GRAMMY Award winner Jerry Douglas, one of the world's finest dobro & lap steel guitar players, will be at this year's Wickham Music Festival on Sat. 3rd Aug. Day & Weekend tickets selling fast!

    After announcing the great American singer Curtis Stigers for the Wickham Music Festival yesterday we'll be announcing another great American musician this evening (Tuesday). A clue. He's a 14-times Grammy Award winner. Any guesses?