Wickham Festival News

Listen to the Wickham Song from Phil Odgers

The Wickham Festival has been immortalised in song!

Phil “Swill” Odgers from the Men They Couldn’t Hang loves the event so much that he has penned a special tribute.

It was performed for the first time during his superb slot with Bobby Valentino on the Village Stage and the crowd took it to their hearts.

Swill said: “I’m surprised no-one has done it before because this is such a special festival – I love it. I am lucky enough to be invited to perform here most years either solo or with the Men They Couldn’t Hang.

“But if I wasn’t singing, I would genuinely be here as a fan. It really does have a unique feel to it which is why I wrote a song about it.

Phil “Swill Odgers” has written a song in tribute to the Wickham Festival

 

“I did a folk session at Boarhunt and had written a tune on the way down but I had no lyrics at all. Afterwards I did a workshop and we sat around and people shouted out lyrics – some of which would never get in any song, ever!

“But it all came together in about 15 minutes but I had still had to sing it in the car on the way here to make sure I knew the lyrics including a well-deserved name-check for Peter Chegwyn who puts on this fantastic event year after year.

Swill and Bobby Valentino played a fantastic set on the Village Stage

“He commands a tremendous amount of respect in the industry and has become the standard by which other people measure their festivals – not just for the music and the atmosphere but for the very fair and level way everyone is treated.

Phil Odgers would attend Wickham Festival as a fan – even if he wasn’t playing!

“To meet a festival organiser who has a very important job but remains down-to-earth and deals with things on a personal level is unique – but then it is a unique festival.

“That attitude runs through the whole festival, through all the people who work here and the countless volunteers who do such a great job. A lot of places you go, people are fed up and stressed and too busy to help but all the staff have that relaxed attitude which pervades the whole event.

“More and more people are hearing about it and coming from further afield. I have two friends who came all the way from north Wales just to work as volunteers which says a lot.

“People do it because they believe in the event. I would say it is my favourite UK festival. I’m not just saying that, I really do feel that way.”

Click below to listen to an interview with Phill “Swill” Odgers as well as organiser Peter Chegwyn and many of the top artists.

 

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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 £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 £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 :)

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

    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

    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 🙂

    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 😁

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

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

    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

    31 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

    Can we have the SAS band and Alabama 3 back please 🙏

    Brilliant band! 😊

    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

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

    Can’t wait to volunteer again 😊

    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 🙂

    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 😃

    Yessss, excellent, one of my favourites😁

    Great craic are those 3 Daft Monkeys.

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

    excellent news three daft monkeys

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    Pleased to confirm that The Men They Couldn't Hang will be back at Wickham in 2024 as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations. Always a great live band. ... See MoreSee Less

    Pleased to confirm that The Men They Couldnt Hang will be back at Wickham in 2024 as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations.  Always a great live band.

    31 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Great news!!👏👏👏👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

    I would appreciate Graham Nash again, sadly never got to see him in 2018, but completely understand if he’s out of budget

    Great stuff !!! Thanks !! Pamela Horrigan

    Excellent news! My favourite band and my favourite festival!

    Great news!

    Great news!

    Great live act well done

    Thats just great news !!!!

    Always a good slot!

    🙌

    Fantastic - very much looking forward to seeing them

    Which night are they playing ?

    Great 😊

    YAY - thank you Wickham Music Festival 🥰

    Simon Tremlett ..this year we are going !

    Excellent. Have booked for the Shepherd's Bush Gala night and for Barnoldswick but you just can't have too much of a great thing......Must say, it's all going rather well for Wickham 2024, but then we KNEW it would! What delights are to be revealed in the coming days, I wonder...??

    Deirdre Arthur

    Yay. Well happy.

    Woo hoo!

    Yay!!!

    Tmtch and tankus? Looking like its going to be a great year so far

    Any more confirmed yet?

    Ooh amazing news.

    Steven C Turner

    Nice!

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    Delighted to announce that top Scottish band Skipinnish are newly confirmed for the 2024 Wickham Festival on Sat. 3 Aug. Same day as Tankus the Henge. Lots more artists being announced this week. Earlybird tickets still available via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk/tickets
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQCuw59ND78
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    5 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Hurrah. My favourite

    Superb. One of my absolute favourites......Thanks Peter and Team! Starting to drool already.....

    Saw them at the Brook last month and now looking g forward to seeing g them again at Wickham 🥳

    Please consider Robert Plants Saving Grace, his latest project which is very folk based.

    Jim Irvine

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