Wickham Festival News

Midge Ure, Afro Celt Sound System, and more added to our 2023 festival line up

It’s just over two months until we open our gates and welcome everyone to Wickham once more.  We’ve added Midge Ure, Afro Celt Sound System, Steve Wickham & Ray Coen, Virginia Kettle, and Daisy Chute to our 2023 line up.

Midge Ure’s bands have included Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids and Visage, and of course as the frontman of Ultravox…

Afro Celt Sound System are among the pioneers of the contemporary world music scene. Their ground-breaking fusion of African, Gaelic and Bhangra influenced sounds has won the hearts and minds of audiences since the group’s beginnings over 25 years ago.

Steve Wickham will appear with special guest Ray Coen on Friday 4th August. Steve is recognised as Ireland’s premier rock fiddler since the mid-1980s. His distinctive playing has been a major contribution to the Waterboys ground-breaking records over the years. Ray has played alongside Steve over many years as part of the band No Crows. With The Saw Doctors, Mary Black, Frankie Gavin & De Dannan, and Mary Coughlan already appearing on the same day, Friday is turning out to be one helluva Irish line up!

Virginia Kettle has been a member of Merry Hell since the band’s inception a decade ago. She will be performing a solo slot on Sunday 6th August before appearing with Merry Hell.

Daisy Chute is an American-Scottish folk singer and songwriter. A banjo-wielding multi-instrumentalist, her musical roots are born out of her transatlantic heritage and she writes award-winning intelligent songs with stories, performing them with spine-tingling vocals & intricate instrumentation.

Archives by year

  • 2025 (5)
  • 2024 (17)
  • 2023 (13)
  • 2022 (13)
  • 2021 (20)
  • 2020 (12)
  • 2019 (25)
  • 2018 (25)
  • 2017 (27)
  • 2016 (23)
  • 2015 (19)
  • 2014 (2)
  • Facebook Posts

    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
    A Wickham at Wickham!  Legendary ex-Waterboys fiddle player Steve Wickham will be at the Wickham Festival on Sunday 3rd August accompanied by Ray Coen.  Day & Weekend tickets onsale via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk

    A Wickham at Wickham! Legendary ex-Waterboys fiddle player Steve Wickham will be at the Wickham Festival on Sunday 3rd August accompanied by Ray Coen. Day & Weekend tickets onsale via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

    2 days ago
    For those asking if Richard Thompson will still be at Wickham after his recent fall, his agent has confirmed today that Richard is recovering well and will be back on the road from the 27th July meaning his appearance at Wickham on Sat. 2nd August will go-ahead as planned.

    For those asking if Richard Thompson will still be at Wickham after his recent fall, his agent has confirmed today that Richard is recovering well and will be back on the road from the 27th July meaning his appearance at Wickham on Sat. 2nd August will go-ahead as planned. ... See MoreSee Less

    4 days ago

    Our Twitter Feed

    Applications are open to perform on our Local Artists Stage at #WickhamFestival this summer! If you're based within 30 miles of Wickham please apply to John via this email address: govinda304@hotmail.com

    Quick reminder that ticket prices will have to rise after Easter.

    You can still save £40 on every 4-day adult weekend ticket (£20 on every under-16 ticket) if you book NOW, before midnight on Easter Monday (21st April). Tickets can be booked online via

    Some great additions to our line-up with @BootlegBeatles @judietzuke @sohsteve @TheAlabama3 @stevewickham and many more.
    Have you got your tickets yet?
    If not, you can still save £40 on every adult weekend season ticket (£20 on every under-16 ticket) if you book now but hurry!

    We are delighted to announce ever-popular music legend @RthompsonMusic will be appearing on Saturday August 2. Tickets available at http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk

    The ever-popular Phil Beer will be appearing solo at #WickhamFestival on Sun. 3rd Aug. as well as joining with Reg Meuross, Marion Fleetwood & Geraint Watkins to perform 'Fire and Dust: A Woody Guthrie Story'