Wickham Festival News

Wickham Festival wins Live Music Award

THE WICKHAM Festival has been voted the best event of its kind in the country.

It has been named the Best Festival (Capacity under 15,000) at the prestigious Live UK Music Business Awards.

Team celebration
The Wickham Festival team celebrate their award

They beat off strong competition from Dorset’s End of the Road and the Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds to claim the crown.

The announcement was made at the gala awards evening in London last night (October 15) and is a fitting reward for the hugely successful event staged at Wickham in August when record crowds flocked to the picturesque site to see the likes of the Proclaimers, 10cc, Billy Bragg and many more.

Organiser Peter Chegwyn said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won, especially given the quality of the opposition.

“We were thrilled just to be nominated for this coveted award and then to make the top three… but to come out on top is a fantastic achievement.

“We are stunned but very proud. It is a fitting tribute to all the people who work so hard to make this festival such a success and to create its unique relaxed atmosphere and family feel.

Peter Chegwyn
Wickham Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn shows off the trophy

“This year’s event was our best yet and I am delighted that has been recognised like this. Hopefully that will give us the impetus to make next year’s festival even better.”

Now in its sixth year, www.livemusicawards.co.uk is the only event committed to presenting awards to the business people who drive the country’s contemporary live music industry.

The awards recognise excellence and talent among promoters, venue operators, festival organisers and agents, through to artiste managers, tour managers, show producers, brand impact and record label partnerships.

Chegwyn added: “The success in not just down to our staff and the artists but also to the fans who have fallen in love with the Wickham Festival so it is only right we share our success with them. Until the end of October, anyone booking an adult weekend ticket for next year can get a £50 discount.

“Although it is nice to see our efforts recognised like this, the greatest reward is seeing thousands of smiling faces – and the biggest testament to our success is that so many people come back year after year.

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The big announcement

“We have already had a record number of people booking for next year before we have even announced a single act. They know there will be a top quality line-up and they know the atmosphere and amenities will be as good as ever.

“People regularly come from all over the world. This year we had more than 25,000 fans with not a single crime reported and we are looking forward to welcoming them back next year.

”This year has been the best festival I have put on in 25 years, record-breaking in every sense. It has really put Wickham on the map – the question now is how do we top it?”

The 2016 event takes place from August 4-7. To celebrate this award, until the end of October fans can save a third on a weekend ticket – a reduction of £50 on a four-day adult ticket. Contact eastfest@talk21.com for details.

Full details of the Festival and how to buy tickets can be found on the Festival website www.wickhamfestival.co.uk or the event’s twitter feed @festivalwickham

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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

    20 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Excellent!

    Happy days!

    Brilliant band! 😊

    Yusss!

    Can’t wait to volunteer again 😊

    Yessss, excellent, one of my favourites😁

    Can’t wait

    Another fantastic band! Thank you 🙂

    excellent news three daft monkeys

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

    Great craic are those 3 Daft Monkeys.

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

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

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

    Great so far! Please get Tide Lines back!

    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 😊

    Brilliant festival Wickham Music Festival

    Yay 😃

    3 Daft Monkeys!! Can't wait

    View more comments

    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.

    29 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

    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

    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...??

    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
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Video image

    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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