Wickham Festival News

The Wickham Festival 2018 site build story in pictures

The excitement is really starting to build at our festival site and morale couldn’t be more positive for this weekend. Wickham Festival kicks off at 4:30pm this Thursday and according to the BBC web site it’s going to be a weekend of sunshine just as we welcome Alistair Russell to kick things off.

Just as a forecast of wall-to-wall sunshine begins our speakers will be switched on as the clouds fade for Wickham Festival 2018!

Preparations this week have all gone to plan and run ahead of schedule. The heavens opened last Sunday as if to order to help soften the ground enough for us to get rid of ruts. For those of you not following us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram here’s how we’ve been progressing…

Friday 27th July – installing £20,000 worth of temporary roadway to ensure easy access

We know many of you remember the muddy start encountered on Thursday last year and we promised we’d get a plan in place to make improvements.  Along with a new entrance directly off the Winchester Road for the tented camping fields to improve traffic entering the site we’ve got much more temporary roadway.

Our Main Stage 1 – The Valley Stage will welcome some incredible artists this year, we think it’s our best ever line up with the likes of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, The South, Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, Squeeze, John Illsley of Dire Straits, Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings, and the Richard Thompson Electric Trio all taking to this stage.

Saturday 28th July – Main Stage 1 – The Valley Stage is up

For 2018 we’ve upgraded our Main Stage 2 – The Village Stage … it’s bigger and better!  It’s impossible to please everyone and we appreciate both sides of the argument with regard to people bringing chairs.  Our plan is to not allow chairs into this marquee as we’ve scheduled the livelier bands for this stage.  This includes The Dhol Foundation, Mad Dog Mcrea, Police Dog Hogan, Black Kat BoppersGaz Brookfield & The Company of Thieves, Ferocious Dog, The Undertones, and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Sunday 29th July – Main Stage 2 – The Village Stage is up

Talking of The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, as if by magic they’ll be performing on Kilt Sunday this year.

The Wickham 2017 tartan army looking fabulous. Remember to pack your kilt for Sunday.

What was a typical looking Hampshire field just a few days ago is starting to look like a festival site…

Sunday 29th July – Somewhere across a field there’s a festival taking shape

Our camping fields are in ideal condition and all ready for you lovely people to make it your home this weekend…

Monday 30th July – What’s missing here?
Monday 30th July – that’s right … glamping tents is just what this field needed

This year we’ve over 20 real ales and ciders for the weekend, mainly from independent local Hampshire breweries including Bowmans and Itchen Valley.

Monday 30th July – Real Ale Tent waiting for its beers
Tuesday 31st July – We’ve even got a bandstand this year!

You won’t go thirsty at this weekend’s Wickham Festival … we’ve lots of bars around our festival site.

Tuesday 31st July – Stubbs McGee’s purpose-built pub in our Backstage VIP Area is erected. This is thirsty work!

It wouldn’t be right to have Wickham without the ever popular Moose Bar.  After a busy week we’re all looking forward to when the pumps get connected.

Tuesday 31st July – A little way to go but with only two days to go The Moose Bar is in full construction.

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    Seen in East London. We've booked Ronnie Lane's band Slim Chance several times. They're great! Have you any photos of other roads named after musicians? ... See MoreSee Less

    Seen in East London.  Weve booked Ronnie Lanes band Slim Chance several times.  Theyre great!  Have you any photos of other roads named after musicians?

    14 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Here's another. Heinz Burt Close in Eastleigh. Named after Heinz, the former bass player of The Tornados (famed for their hit Telstar)

    Not named after me as such, but I’ve dj’d the silent disco the last 2 years for Bug Beats Events at the Wickham Music Festival! 🤣🤣

    There's Charles Watts Way at Hedge end of course

    Hi Pete. Did you see my email. Croft No 5 have reformed!! 😊

    I saw Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance in 1976 in the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm. What a great band.

    Marylebone, London

    As part of the 'other festival' in Pilton you will find a new road Maggies Farm, not a band member but of course from Bobs tune.

    OK - I need to get out more! Here’s a little something to fulfil the request!

    Ash Smither

    Can't remember where this was now but great name 🤭

    Of course its Swansea so it may be the Welsh Dylan

    Spotted this in Partinico, Sicily.

    In his home town of Paisley.

    Not a road name, but Billy Bragg Bicycles sign in Gillingham is one I remember from childhood. Obviously not that Billy Bragg!

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    Great to meet up with The Magic Teapot crew at The Showman's Show today and confirm that The Magic Teapot will be back at Wickham next summThe Magic Teapotvenue ... See MoreSee Less

    Great to meet up with The Magic Teapot crew at The Showmans Show today and confirm that The Magic Teapot will be back at Wickham next summer.  https://www.facebook.com/magicteapotvenue

    12 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Yay!! My favourite place

    I hope so… best place to be at the end of an awesome day!

    That is great news, just love the Magic Teapot vibe. The coffee’s great too ❤️

    Love The Magic Teapot it’s my festival happy place

    Fab!! Loved ending the evening here, chatting to a few people or just listening 😊

    This is great news xx

    The best place to be for singing and tea!

    Excellent especially the young lad.

    I ❤️ The Magic Teapot

    Great news

    Music to my ears ❤️

    Look good Peter

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    Thank you to everyone who supported Matthew Bannister on his walk from Wickham Festival to Folk East and helped to raise a fantastic £18,014 for the charity 'Help Musicians'.We've done the sums, and from your donations and t-shirt purchases you raised a staggering £18,014 for Help Musicians!

    Thank you so much both for supporting us on this adventure, and for supporting the musicians making the music which brings such joy to our lives
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Thank you to everyone who supported Matthew Bannister on his walk from Wickham Festival to Folk East and helped to raise a fantastic £18,014 for the charity Help Musicians.

    5 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Amazing effort. Well done Matthew!

    Absolute amazing congratulations and well done 👏

    That is a incredible amount Congratulations

    Fab job!

    Fabulous !!

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