Wickham Festival News

Wickham Festival to stage a special show

Wickham Festival organisers are to stage a one-off drive-in concert starring Show of Hands after being forced to postpone this year’s main event.

The four-day festival was scheduled to take place from August 6-9 but was put back 12 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But organisers have defiantly vowed “The Show Must Go On” and will now put on a special event with Britain’s top acoustic music duo Show of Hands.

They will be appearing at Netley’s Royal Victoria Country Park on Friday August 7, the day they were due to headline at Wickham Festival.

In order to comply with government regulations, the concert – presented by Soundlevel Events in association with Wickham Festival – will be a drive-in show with space for 150 cars containing up to four people at a cost of £50 per vehicle.

Cars can arrive from 6pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Click here to book tickets. Although there will not be a bar, people can bring their own food and drink and sit alongside their vehicles. Indoor toilets will be available.

Wickham Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn said: “We were desperately disappointed that we had to postpone this year’s festival as we really felt we could get it on safely. But we don’t give up easily.

“We won’t allow ourselves to be beaten by this virus. We know a lot of people are desperate to enjoy live music so we are offering something a bit different.

“Show of Hands have been one of our most popular acts for many years and would have been headlining our Friday night. It is just now it will be as a two-piece at a different venue and with a rather different atmosphere!

Phil Beer from Show of Hands at Wickham Festival Hampshire. Credit: Jim Houlbrook/Alamy Live News

“It will be completely safe and socially distanced so we are hoping for a big crowd to enjoy what will be a memorable night out. We expect it to be a lot of fun, the kind of event to say: ‘I was there!’

“Although there have been other drive-in concerts, as far as we know we are the first festival to do something like this – and it will be interesting for us to try staging an event at a new setting.

“Our loyal following will also be able to support us via a Crowdfunding page. Like all festivals and the rest of the arts, we have been hit financially by the pandemic so we are hoping our fans will help us in these difficult times.”

Show of Hands frontman Steve Knightley is backing the appeal and is delighted to be supporting a cause which means so much to him.

He said: “The Wickham Festival is a wonderful event and one which has had a very special place in our hearts for many years. We are delighted to help out and I really hope people support it through these tough times.

Steve Knightley from Show of Hands at Wickham Festival Hampshire. Credit: Jim Houlbrook/Alamy Live News

“We are very excited to be asked to perform. We have never done a drive-in show before so it will be a unique event and we are determined to make it very special.

“We were due to be headlining at Wickham that night and although the atmosphere will be a bit different, it is great that the show will go on. We are going to make it a lot of fun.”

The entire four-day scheduled programme has now been rolled over to next year (Aug 5-8) when Van Morrison will be headlining alongside Show of Hands and the Waterboys.

Also appearing are: The South, Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets, the SAS Band starring Wickham favourites Tom Robinson, Toyah, Steve Harley, Graham Gouldman and many more. Tickets remain valid and donations can be made here. Click here to book to see Show of Hands at Victoria Country Park.

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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

    25 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Great so far! Please get Tide Lines back!

    Excellent!

    Excellent 🤘🤘

    Brilliant band! 😊

    Happy days!

    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!

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

    Can’t wait

    Another fantastic band! Thank you 🙂

    excellent news three daft monkeys

    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

    Yay 😃

    Yessss, excellent, one of my favourites😁

    Great craic are those 3 Daft Monkeys.

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

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

    Fab line up already… add Alabama 3 please!!!! 😎❤️

    Dammit Actb Smith looks like I’ll be missing a great lineup next year. Bet you’re glad you got early tickets now!

    3 Daft Monkeys!! Can't wait

    Brilliant festival Wickham Music Festival

    Brilliant 😍

    Not excited yet....

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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.

    30 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

    Excellent news! My favourite band and my favourite festival!

    Great stuff !!! Thanks !! Pamela Horrigan

    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 !

    Deirdre Arthur

    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...??

    Woo hoo!

    Yay!!!

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

    Any more confirmed yet?

    Ooh amazing news.

    Yay. Well happy.

    Steven C Turner

    Nice!

    Finn Murphy McSweggan

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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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    4 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.

    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?

    15 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.

    How come? 😉

    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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