Wickham Festival News

Win a guitar signed by Wickham Festival stars

How would you like to win a guitar signed by many of the big names at the Wickham Festival – and help a good cause into the bargain?
Donated by the Guitar Store in Southampton, it has been autographed by the likes of Toyah, Nick Lowe, Deacon Blue and plenty more – and raffle tickets cost just £2.

Win a guitar signed by the likes of Toyah, Nick Lowe and many more

The aim is to raise money for the music therapy charity George’s Rockstars set up in memory of George O’Shaughnessy who died from leukaemia in 2019 aged just six.

His mother Amy said: “He fought the disease for five years and spent a lot of time in hospital having treatment. It was tough but music therapy really helped him to process and show his emotions.

“When we lost him, we decided we wanted to do something in his memory to help other children in hospital so we set up the charity George’s Rockstars.

“The pandemic slowed it down but now it is really taking off. We have a therapist Cathy Birch who goes into QA Hospital in Portsmouth and is about to start in Southampton. We are hoping to extend the scheme to Winchester and Basingstoke by the end of the year.

“Some children spend a long time in hospital and things like this can really improve their stays. A lot of what they go through is stressful and scary and this can help them process it without having to vocalise their emotions; we know from experience just how brilliant it is.

This signed guitar is raising money for music therapy charity George’s Rockstars

“But to include more hospitals we obviously need funding which is why we are so grateful to the Guitar Store for donating this beautiful instrument and to all the team at Wickham Festival who worked so hard to get so many signatures when they had so much else to do.”

Guitar Store owner Jamie Goatley added: “We were delighted to support such a good cause and I really hope people get behind it and we can raise a lot of money for a wonderful charity which can make such a difference.

“This really is a one-off prize which will be a unique souvenir for the lucky winner. Tickets cost just £2 each for the chance to win a fantastic piece of music memorabilia.”

The full list of artists to sign is:

NICK LOWE

EDDI READER

STEVE KNIGHTLY

FAIRPORT CONVENTION

THE SOUTH

DEACON BLUE

TOYAH WILCOX

TANKUS THE HENGE

JOHN OTWAY

STANLEY JORDAN

JACKIE OATES

JOHN SPIERS

SETH LAKEMAN

ELIZA CARTHY

DENNIS GREAVES (NINE BELOW ZERO)

ROD CLEMENTS (LINDISFARNE)

JOHNNY KALSI (DHOL FOUNDATION)

Tickets for the raffle can be bought here

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    Were very sorry to hear that Steve Harley has died.  He appeared many times at Wickham, usually with his own band but also with Spike Edneys SAS Band.  He always gave a great show and was always a pleasure to work with.  Were so sad to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

    We're very sorry to hear that Steve Harley has died. He appeared many times at Wickham, usually with his own band but also with Spike Edney's SAS Band. He always gave a great show and was always a pleasure to work with. We're so sad to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to his family. ... See MoreSee Less

    2 days ago

    58 CommentsComment on Facebook

    Here's a backstage interview which Steve gave to our Festival Press Officer Graham Hiley in 2018. It's a great interview. Do give it a listen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJh3FjE2Vro

    Very sad to hear this. Loved seeing him at Wickham.

    We saw him at Wickham he was brilliant despite having to sit for the performance as he had leg or hip problems! Didn't affect the energy of his set! Sad loss!

    Heartbreaking news; Steve’s music has been ( and will remain) very much a part of our lives. Our thoughts are with his family. RIP Steve, you will be missed ♥️

    Always great to see - will be missed

    Noooo! He was so lovely. RIP you came up and made me smile.

    Very sad news. I’m glad we saw him a couple of times in recent years at Wickham. A great performer. Sadly missed

    Very sad - we loved seeing him at Wickham Music Festival :(

    So sad to hear this news. I saw him at Wickham in 2015, a great artist and performer. Deepest sympathies to his loved ones 💛

    We were there at his last Wickham gig and also a more recent intimate theatre gig nearer to home, just last year. Very different but loved both. A brilliant performer and a very nice guy. Will be sadly missed. 😢

    Heartbreaking news.

    Devastated! One of my all time favourites. RIP Steve.😪

    So sad, he was brilliant there a few years ago, one of the very best highlights of the festival 💔

    Still hear “make me smile” almost daily on the radio. Such a brilliant uplifting song and his voice was amazing. Sad sad loss to the music industry. RIP Steve

    Very sad loss Peter ..Great music

    It's truly heartbreaking. He was wonderful and will be greatly missed

    Oh how sad. My younger years sounds which I loved . 🙏💕

    So sorry 😔 He stirred such emotion when I saw him at Wickham, a true and great artist ❤️

    Thanks for sharing.Very sad news.Yes very sad. Back in the 1990s he headlined several of our Heineken (freebie) Big Top festivals.Always great to work with backstage and a real crowd- pleaser.

    Sad news. Great forever songs to remember him by. Condolences to his family and friends.x

    Very sad 😢 loved seeing his shows - a joy! Cx

    Legend I hope he’s being a rebel in spirit and makes the spirits smile ❤️🥺

    Lucky enough to see him twice at Wickham (once with his band and once with the SAS Band). A sad day :(

    Brilliant live x

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    Our Twitter Feed

    Steve Harley was an audience favourite at Wickham Festival, and a delight to work with. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

    Steve Harley: Cockney Rebel singer dies at 73

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68590846

    The Saw Doctors would like to say a Big Thanks to everybody who has bought or streamed ‘All We Love’ today —the new single is Number 3 in Ireland and No. 23 in the UK. Here’s the link to buy or stream ‘All We Love’   
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    Wonderfully evocative and typically catchy song from our old friends @sawdoctors ready for #StPatricksDay
    Would love to hear them do this at #wickhamfesival one day. Great stuff!

    Our new line-up inc. Curtis Stigers with a few more artists inc. Jerry Douglas to add. We hope to unveil last confirmed artists inc. one more headliner soon. Day & Tier 4 Weekend tickets selling fast. Save £50 on every 4-day weekend ticket. Book now. http://www.wickhamfestival.co.uk

    We're delighted to announce that 16-times GRAMMY Award winner Jerry Douglas, one of the world's finest dobro & lap steel guitar players, will be at this year's Wickham Music Festival on Sat. 3rd Aug. Day & Weekend tickets selling fast!

    After announcing the great American singer Curtis Stigers for the Wickham Music Festival yesterday we'll be announcing another great American musician this evening (Tuesday). A clue. He's a 14-times Grammy Award winner. Any guesses?