Wickham Festival News

Day 3 – review

Frank Turner received a homecoming hero’s welcome as he took Wickham Festival by storm.

The Wessex Boy grew up just nine miles from the picturesque site and his affection for the area was clear in a pulsating set which had the huge crowd on a high.

Homecoming hero Frank Turner

Organisers have been after him for years but dates never quite matched – until now. And it was well worth the wait!

From the moment he burst onto the stage to launch into “Get Better” he had the crowd in the palm of his hand – at least until the encore when fans had him in the palms of their hands as he went crowd surfing!

Frank Turner tries crowdsurfing at Wickham

For Frank, it was show number 2,372 but a very special one as he continually referenced his roots and even apologised for taking so long to appear here.

He stressed how he loved the great line-up and the chilled atmosphere then joked: “When I was growing up just nine miles away, I used to lie in bed dreaming that one day I would play my 2,372nd show in Wickham!”

The crowd loved the banter as much as the supercharged set which followed on from another superb show from evergreen Wickham favourites The Men They Couldn’t Hang.

The Men They Couldn’t Hang

They proved the perfect warm-up for the headline act with a typically high-octane delivery to build on a fantastic set from Grace Petrie.

She was clearly move by the wonderful reception she received, not just for her music but also her ideals and beliefs which came through in her lyrics and her passionate rants.

Grace Petrie

Her fight for LGBT rights and her campaign against transphobia – or bigotry – went down well with the open-minded and receptive audience.

Meanwhile on the Village Stage Holy Moly and the Crackers were also going down a storm with their magical moonshine mix.

They were followed by Elephant Sessions who won over many new fans before Afro Celt Sound System rounded off another great night at Wickham.

There is still plenty more music to come on Sunday with Hollywood legend Kiefer Sutherland and his band followed by Alabama 3 on the Village Stage.

Over on the Valley Stage there is a fantastic four-pack of Ralph McTell, Lucinda Williams, Lindisfarne and Gilbert O’Sullivan.

This year’s festival has drawn huge crowds

Please note Sunday is completely sold out and no day tickets will be available at the box office which is open to receive applications for next year (August 6-9). Fans booking before they leave can save up to Β£80 on a weekend ticket.

Check out our twitter feed @festivalwickham for interviews with Frank Turner, Swill from The Men They Couldn’t Hang and Grace Petrie. And visit our facebook page for a gallery of pictures from our wonderful Wickham photographers.

 

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    Newly confirmed. The inimitable John Otway Band will be at Wickham next summer on Sat. 3rd Aug. Same night as Skipinnish & Tanjus the Henge. You can still save Β£70 on 4-day earlybird weekend tickets via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets if you book before Xmas. ... See MoreSee Less

    Newly confirmed.  The inimitable John Otway Band will be at Wickham next summer on Sat. 3rd Aug.  Same night as Skipinnish & Tanjus the Henge.  You can still save Β£70 on 4-day earlybird weekend tickets via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets if you book before Xmas.

    21 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Great stuff so far, thank you! Only a handful of acts and I'm already worrying about clashes in stage times ;) Got one of the early EarlyBird tickets and Glamping ...so very happy so far...this'll be my 5th Wickham, you never disappoint :)

    The line up is looking so good!

    Had legit no idea who he was last time but dad said id like him so i went and listened. Laughed so hard my ribs hurt cant wait for round 2

    Please, I beg you, don't put Tankus and John on different stages at the same time ;)

    How about Hawkwind great festival band.

    *Tankus* the Henge!

    Brilliant, I look forward to seeing him.

    Madder Mill Molly I think there'll be a few of us at this one πŸ™‚

    OMG ... this is shaping up to be the best line up ever! Will have Beware of the Flowers as an earworm for the foreseeable future, but that's a price worth paying 😁

    Martin Turners Wishbone Ash, Focus, Turin Brakes, Los Pacaminos, Albert Lee

    Wickham Music Festival Any chance of booking Attila too? And yes, I know I'm being greedy

    Is he bringing Wild Willy Barrett? 😳😳😳

    oh joy, rock royalty

    Wickham Music Festival - thank you again. Any chance of The Devil's Prefects and JollyRoger?

    Colin Foster

    How about the Longest John’s The Longest Johns also Carlos Núñez back again with a brand new album #CelticSea which he’ll be showcasing at Celtic Connections

    Paul Day 😁

    Any chance of getting Doris Brendel. Rick Parfitt Jnr and The RPJ Band. Clive Jackson. Nell Bryden, or even Kim Thompsett

    Track Dogs said they hadn't heard yet - but were up for performing again. Is that possible?

    Sonia Adams Mell Gardner Andy Hawkins Colin Lacey Paul Ratcliffe

    Steve Rossi

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    Newly confirmed. 3 Daft Monkeys will be at our 2024 Wickham Festival on Fri., Aug. 2. Other bands already confirmed inc. Tankus the Henge; Skipinnish; & The Men They Couldn't Hang. More to be announced shortly. www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets ... See MoreSee Less

    Newly confirmed.  3 Daft Monkeys will be at our 2024 Wickham Festival on Fri., Aug. 2. Other bands already confirmed inc. Tankus the Henge; Skipinnish; & The Men They Couldnt Hang.  More to be announced shortly.  www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets

    34 CommentsComment on Facebook

    We can not wait, we love Wickham Music Festival xxxxx

    Great so far! Please get Tide Lines back!

    Excellent!

    Excellent 🀘🀘

    Brilliant 😍

    Brilliant festival Wickham Music Festival

    Brilliant band! 😊

    Can we have the SAS band and Alabama 3 back please πŸ™

    Yes! Yes! Yes!

    Love 3DM first saw them 23 years ago doing a street fair in Evershot, Dorset. Have seen them every year since a great lively band and very Wickham

    Can’t wait to volunteer again 😊

    Awesome!!! Got my ticket months ago, so am so excited!! xx

    This just gets better and better. When are you going to announce the Second Coming of Warren Zevon, who will be headlining on Sunday !!!!!! Four acts announced, albums by three in my collection......That's what makes Wickham such a wonderful festival and the musical highlight of my year......!!

    Yusss!

    Another fantastic band! Thank you πŸ™‚

    Happy days!

    Can’t wait

    I love it when these announcements start. I don't know this band but it gives me a chance to start researching. So looking forward to Wickham Music Festival August 2024. Tickets bought in August 23!

    How long are the Early Bird tickets on for? I'm trying to round up several others but I don't want to miss out while others dither Wickham Music Festival

    So happy that 3 Daft Monkeys Are at Wickham next year. They were awesome at South Petherton earlier this year 😊

    Yay πŸ˜ƒ

    Yessss, excellent, one of my favourites😁

    Great craic are those 3 Daft Monkeys.

    If Saw Doctors make it a hat trick , I'll be as happy as a pig at a wet Wickham festival.

    Megan James Astrid must be thrilled with the line up so far for Wickham! All her favs x

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