Wychwood Festival

Waterstones teams up with Wychwood Festival

by

Readers from young to old will enjoy a variety of events programmed by authors to tantalize and inspire any individual’s love for stories, reading and literature.

CBeebies show Nina and the Neurons will escape from the science lab to visit Wychwood for some Sunday story telling delighting audiences and shedding light on the mysteries behind our brilliant bodies. Philip Ardaugh, described by The Independent as “A National Treasure” is the award-winning author of over 70 books including the 'Eddie Dickens Adventures' and 'Unlikely Exploits' and boasts collaborations with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney on his first children’s book and is also a reviewer of children’s book for The Guardian newspaper. Talking about everything from why he writes and how he writes, to where he gets his inspiration from and his love of ducks, Ardaugh is one authors will not want to miss.

Award-winning illustrator of the 'Horrible Science' series and Cotswolds local Tony de Saulles will be holding dedicated Horrible Science Cartoon Drawing Workshops whilst children’s author, Ian Whybrow will be entertaining all with his latest series from 'Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs'.

Anna Wilson will be talking about her animal themed adventures and Stroud’s favourite 'Zeus on the Loose' author John Dougherty will showcase his talented poetic skills along with songs to enchant and amuse with his silly -style. Elen Caldecott will share her passion for books and her love of inventing characters. 'Operation Eiffel Tower' is her latest wondrous creation taking ordinary people and making them do very extraordinary things.

Shoo Rayner will join the programme as a leading international children’s author and illustrator. He is well known for his commitment to the cause of struggling and newly-independent readers while children love his pacey, highly-illustrated, funny, thoughtful stories based on unforgettable characters. Jamilla Gavin will be talking about her experiences of living in both the foothills of the Himalayas and Wychwood’s local town of Stroud and how this culminated in her writing books reflecting her experiences as a multi-racial child.  Finally, Belgium born K J Wignall will offer his sophisticated plots and elegant prose.

Wychwood's Children's Literature Festival sponsors, Waterstones made the following comment: “Waterstones is delighted to be official bookseller for the Wychwood Festival this year and we look forward to the Children's Literature Festival being an exciting, integral part of the festival experience. We hope that readers of all ages will enjoy the variety of author events programmed for the festival and feel inspired to develop their love of stories, reading and books. The Festival bookshop will be situated on site in the literature tent where events and signings will take place. Waterstones main bookshop can be found at 33-41 The Promenade, Cheltenham. Festival goers should also make sure they visit the Roald Dahl Museum tent for swashbuckling storytelling and crafts. Keep your eyes peeled whilst exploring the Children's Literature Festival as you may spot Winnie the Witch, Where's Wally or Floppy the Dog enjoying the Wychwood sunshine! Our 2012 line-up includes the following authors.”

The Saw Doctors to headline Sunday at Wychwood Festival 2012

by

Wychwood Festival is also delighted to announce that French sensation and BBC 6Music favourites Francois & The Atlas Mountains, punk forefathers Hawkind, Britpop trio Dodgy, stunningly talented accordionist Sharon Shannon plus champions of pop music, Oxford band Alphabet Backwards have also been added to the already burgeoning line-up. Set in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside on Cheltenham Racecourse from 8th-10th June 20012, Wychwood is widely regarded as the UK's leading festival for families, providing an utterly delightful festival experience for all ages, featuring an eclectic mix of music from folk to world and through to pop and picking up nominations for 'Best Family Festival' at the UK Festival Awards every year since it launched in 2005. Tickets are on sale now via the Wychwood website. 

Irish rock band The Saw Doctors will take to the stage on Sunday 10th June. Having achieved a spectacular nineteen top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones, and developed a reputation for their barnstorming live performances, crowds will go wild for their Irish charm.

The Saw Doctors

Storming onto the British scene, this year’s international act of the moment, Francois & The Atlas Mountains will be performing at this year’s Wychwood Festival. A multi-talented songwriter, musician, animator and artist, Francoise Marry’s French roots combined with his British influences have created a swell of rhythmic piano chords, shimmering electric guitars and a blend of styles unique to any other act releasing new material at this moment. Francoise’s fluctuation between French and English lyrics is both charming and hypnotic. A must see act for 2012.
 
Hawkind are one of the earliest space rock groups and since forming in 1969 they have been recognized as the precursor to punk rock and are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures. Expect the bizarre with an urban and science themed set to thoroughly entertain at this year’s festival.
 
Britpop English power pop rock trio Dodgy are welcomed to this year’s Wychwood bringing classic crowd pleasers, ‘Good Enough’ and ‘Staying Out For The Summer’ that will undoubtedly create quite a stir and stick firm in the minds of revelers for years to come. Accordionist Sharon Shannon has music at her fingertips with her multi-maligned accordion playing bringing songs influenced by her Irish roots but also stretching across all musical genres including Hip-Hop, Cajan, Country, Classical and Rap. Past collaborators include Bono, The Waterboys, Sinead O’Connor plus she’s entertained the likes of Bill Clinton and The Sultan in Australia and is no stranger to the stage, having become a genre-defying star with multi-platinum album sales.
 
Today’s final announcement arrives with the champions of Pop music, Oxford band Alphabet Backwards. With their infectiously catchy tracks, their punctuated and irresistible synth buzz and a thoroughly entertaining live show, Alphabet Backwards will make you their number one fan. Already receiving airplay from 6Music’s Tom Robinson, Steve Lamaq and Huw Stephens’, they will delight crowds at Wychwood Festival 2012.
 
Wychwood Festival is shaping up to be the most exciting line-up since it’s birth in 2005. With a hugely saturated festival market fans will flock to the Gloucestershire countryside to experience the best in world and folk music in an utterly delightful atmosphere enjoyed by all who choose to place it in their summer calendar. Today Wychwood announces new acts to ensure festival lovers make Wychwood their number one stop this summer.

 

More acts announced for Wychwood Festival 2012

by

The supremely intelligent Fay Hield and her Hurricane Party, Romanian gypsy band Mahala Rai Banda, ex-Beetroot Kings frontman Gary Armstrong and London-based alt. folkers Urusen have all been added to the line-up, proving Wychwood Festival to once again be a treasure trove of the ecclectic, diverse and sonically engaging. Now in its eighth year, Wychwood Festival takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse and is set against the picturesque backdrop of the Prestbury Hillsn Gliucestershire. Tickets are on sale now and available from the official festival website.

With economic and social upheaval in England during the 70s, disenfranchised youngsters stepped up to the stage and began initiating chaos. This was the birth of the infamous British punk movement. The Damned were at the forefront of this movement as one of the earliest punk bands to form. They were the first British punk band to release a single, an album, and tour America. Having formed in 1976, the band now have over 35 years of punk rock history under their belts. The Damned are incredibly ambitious and have constantly evolved, with their later albums taking influences from psychedelia, prog rock and metal genres. The Damned are generally recognised as one of the founders of goth music and have been a constant source of inspiration for many emerging hardcore bands.

Fay Hield’s earthy approach to singing and her haunting and powerful delivery uniquely appeal to both older and younger audiences and it wasn’t long before Topic Records, Europe’s oldest and most respected Independent Record Label, approached her with a view to signing her as their first new artist in 20 years. Raised in the singing community of the West Yorkshire Pennines, Fay’s childhood was as much influenced by the bare essentials of the West Yorkshire landscape as the lively, warm music scene surrounding the Famous Bacca Pipes Folk Club in Keighley. Her debut solo CD, ‘Looking Glass’ was released to a fanfare of music media praise and brought her a nomination for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2011. She has guested on the latest CDs by Martin Simpson and Spiers & Boden and has been described as “a real singer… in an age of honey throated whimpering" by fRoots and “Unadorned – and quite exquisite…Hield is a rare talent" by Uncut.

Duke Special is an artist aptly named. Dynamic, musically ambitious & bracingly eccentric, with his inimitable style and lush musicality. Hailing from Belfast with a sound that is self-confessed “hobo-chic”, Duke Special – AKA the endlessly inventive Peter Wilson – is once heard, never forgotten. Blissfully at home in his own alluring genre of beautifully bruised romanticism, Duke Special inhabits a world unlike any other – a world filled with vaudevilleesque sensibility, sing-a-longs and addictive melodies. “My sound is a bit vagabondy, but pure and soulful too,” he explains.

Mahala Rai Banda is a gypsie band with members originating from small Romanian villages and retired soldiers from Moldavia. Shaped in the Gypsy ghettos around Bucharest, Mahala Rai Banda (translated as Noble Band from the Ghetto), combine a dazzling array of styles. The band play Romanian violins & accordions with a brass section and a riotous rhythm section. They group form inventive arrangements and perform them in style to create an energetic party atmosphere at every show. Tracks by Mahala Rai Banda have been covered and sampled by Nouvelle Vague, Balkan Beat Box, Dj ClicK, Forty Thieves Orkestar and Russ Jones. Their song “Mahalageasca” makes an appearance in the Borat film and also features on the Buddha Bar Ten Years compilation.

The former front man with Mansfield-based indie rock band The Beetroot Kings Gary Armstrongbacks up his huge local following and obvious talent with some impressive guitar-driven material. Gary is no stranger to the underground or the festival circuit, with countless shows behind him. From pop tonal summer days screaming at pre-teens, to rock and blues bike fests under a rain of real ale to underground unlicensed folk punk fests, Gary has achieved something so many artists have tried to do before him and bridged the void of all the genres.

Urusen are one of the most exciting bands to emerge out of the UK alt-folk scene. The London based band have performed at festivals across the UK including Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Larmer Tree and 2000 Trees, cementing themselves as a festival favourite with their musicianship, heartfelt narratives, and exhilarating dedication to performance. They recently recorded a new album at Realworld Studios with producer Steve Osborne (Elbow, Doves, KT Tunstall, PJ Harvey) which is due for release in early 2012.

Famed for delivering a truly family-focused festival experience, Wychwood leads the way with innovative programming designed to delight children as well as wonderful music from around the world to entertain the adults.  Since launching in 2005, Wychwood has become one of the UK’s most successful independent arts events of the summer season and been nominated in the ‘Best Family Festival’ category at the UK Festival Awards every single year. 

TICKET INFORMATION:
                                                                                                           
Weekend Festival Tickets
Weekend Adult: £115
Weekend Disabled 2 for 1: £115
Weekend Youth/Concession: £55
Weekend 5-9 Year Old: £15
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
 
Day Festival Tickets
Friday Adult: £37
Friday Youth/Concession: £24
Friday 10 -15 Year Old: £20
Friday 5 – 9 Year Old: £10
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
 
Saturday Adult: £53
Saturday Youth/Concession: £40
Saturday 10 -15 Year Old: £20
Saturday 5 – 9 Year Old: £10
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
 
Sunday Adult: £43
Sunday Youth/Concession: £30
Sunday 10 -15 Year Old: £20
Sunday 5 – 9 Year Old: £10
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
 
Booking Fees
Credit/Debit Card (per paid ticket): £2             
Cheque/PO: FREE         
Postage & Recorded Delivery: £3             
 
Camping Passes (Weekend)                                                                                 
Adult Weekend: £20            
Adult Weekend in Campervan/Caravan/Live in Vehicle: £35            
Weekend Youth/Concession Weekend: £10            
Under 16 Weekend: FREE         

Camping Passes (Day)
Adult Day: £10
Adult Day in Live in Vehicle: £15
Youth/Concession Day: £5
 Under 16 Day: FREE

Bellowhead, Howard Marks, The Cuban Brothers and more set for 2012’s Wychwood Festival

by

8th – 10th June 2012, Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire

http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/

BellowHeadWychwood Festival is proud to confirm the 11-member strong Bellowhead for 2012, headlining the main stage on Friday 8th June. Five time winners of Best Live Group at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Bellowhead’s set will be a special opening night treat. Armed to the teeth with South American charm and soul The Cuban Brothers, will strut their stuff on Wychwood’s main stage on the Friday 8th June, while Howard Marks, renowned for his captivating spoken word and story telling, will step up to the mic in the Big Top on Saturday 9th June. Also appearing on Saturday over on the main stage are Doctor & The Medics, the psychedelic rockers famed for their number 1 single ‘Spirit In The Sky’.

From a recent appearance on Rob Brydon’s 2011 Christmas Special on BBC2 to Cheltenham Racecourse, The Magic Tomolinos’ punk infused Balkan folk will headline Friday in the Big Top. Sunday’s Big Top welcomes folked-up hip-hoppers Dizareli and The Small Gods, while the cheekily named Thrill Collins return to Wychwood offering up cover versions skewed with their own ‘nu-skiffle’ twist as part of Sunday’s main stage line-up as will JuJu. Comprising of artists Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, JuJu present a heady mix of traditional African and leftfield jazz sounds on Saturday alongside fellow musicians Billy Fuller and Dave Smith.

Cuban BrothersAlso now on sale are day tickets to Wychwood Festival ranging from only £37 to £53 for adults, customers purchasing day tickets will also have the opportunity to purchase day ticket camping for only £10 per adult.

Once again seven BBC Introducing shows from surrounding counties will be joining forces to provide the best in new music from Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Coventry, Warwickshire, Hereford, Worcester, Oxford, Wilstshire and Wales, further information to be announced soon.

Famed for delivering a truly family-focused festival experience, Wychwood leads the way with innovative programming designed to delight children as well as wonderful music from around the world to entertain the adults.  Since launching in 2005, Wychwood has become one of the UK’s most successful independent arts events of the summer season and been nominated in the ‘Best Family Festival’ category at the UK Festival Awards every single year.

  • Line-up Information

 

FRIDAY

Main stage

Bellowhead

Cuban Brothers

The Roving Crows

 

 

 

Big Top

The Magic Tombolinos

 

BBC Introducing Stage

To be announced soon…

SATURDAY

Main stage

James

JuJu

Dr & The Medics

Katy Ashworth

 

 

Big Top

Howard Marks

 

BBC Introducing Stage

To be announced soon…

SUNDAY

Main stage

The Dhol Foundation

Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends

Sean Lakeman and Kathryn Roberts

Thrill Collins

 

 

Big Top

Dizaeli and The Small Gods

 

BBC Introducing Stage

To be announced soon…

 

James announced as first headliner for Wychwood Festival 2012

by

Having moved back a weekend to accommodate the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Wychwood will next year take place from Friday 8th June to Sunday 10th June and will once again be set to the famous backdrop of the rolling Prestbury Hills. To celebrate the Manchester band’s appearance at Wychwood, festival organisers will be asking fans and friends of Wychwood to send in pictures of themselves ‘sitting’ in unusual places for the chance to win weekend camping tickets for them and their family.  For more information please visit the festival’s Facebook profile www.facebook.com/wychwoodfestival

James

Also confirmed for this year’s festival line-up is a dazzling array of artist from a diverse mix of genres.  Cornish shanty singers Port Isaac’s Fishermen’s Friends will join the likes of Johnny Kalsi and the mighty Dhol Foundation, Sean Lakeman, the brother of previous Wychwood headliner Seth, and Kathryn Roberts and The Roving Crows, a local band who brought the house down last year and are back by popular demand.  On the comedy front, Mr. Robin Ince will return to curate a delirious line-up of some of his favourite comedians as well as perform one of his now legendary sets while on the family programme Wychwood is delighted to welcome the CBeebies star Katy Ashworth to Wychwood for the first time.  Katy will be joined by the stars of Nick Junior The Bopps who will be thrilling the children with their antics and last but by no means least theRoald Dahl Museum & Story Centre will once again return to provide story telling and creative activities in 2012. Wychwood is also proud to be welcoming Mumsnet, the hugely influential portal for all things parenting, as a media partner to next year’s festival.

Famed for delivering a truly family-focussed festival experience, Wychwood leads the way with innovative programming designed to delight children and wonderful music from around the world to entertain the adults.  Since launching in 2003, Wychwood has become one of the UK’s most successful independent arts event of the summer season and been nominated in the ‘Best Family Festival’ category at the UK Festival Awards every single year..  A limited number of early bird tickets are currently on sale until 31st December 2011. From January 1st tickets are priced as follows:

Ticket Type Earlybird From 31/12/11*

Weekend Festival Tickets

Weekend Adult £100 £115
Weekend Disabled 2 for 1 £100 £115
Weekend Youth/Concession £82 £95
Weekend 10-15 Year Old £45 £55
Weekend 5-9 Year Old £0 £15
Under 5 FREE FREE

Booking Fees

Credit/Debit Card (per paid ticket) £2
Cheque/PO FREE
Postage & Recorded Delivery £3

Camping Passes

Adult Weekend £10 £20
Adult Weekend in Campervan/Caravan/Live in Vehicle £20 £35
Weekend Youth/Concession Weekend £5 £10
Under 16 Weekend FREE FREE
Please indicate if you are bringing under 5s as they will be issued with a ticket in 2012.

Tickets can be purchased from the festival box office on 01993 772580, by visiting the festival website www.wychwoodfestival.com,WeGotTickets.com or TicketWeb.co.uk.

Wychwood Festival lineup details

by

Now confirmed for Saturday’s Big Top line up is seminal punk poet John Cooper Clarke. Having risen to stardom back in the late 70’s and early 80’s for support slots for the likes of The Sex Pistols, The Fall, Joy Division, Buzzcocks, Sioxsie and the Banshees, Elvis Costello and New Order, John hit the headlines again in 2007 when his poem ‘Out of Control Fairground’ was printed inside Arctic Monkeys’ single ‘Flourescent Adolescent’. Also joining John on Saturday’s Big Top line-up will be the Tito Robin Trio, an acoustic folk treat from the French Music Office whose namesake front man was described by the late great Charlie Gillett as “…one of the world’s great musicians and visionaries”.

Following the critically acclaimed release last year of ‘Where Do The Children Play’, a Cat Stevens classic that was reviewed by the man himself as “better than his own”, Liverpool soul stars The Christians will be bringing their distinctive take on soul to Wychwood’s Independent Stage on the Sunday. Also confirmed for the Sunday line-up are Afro-Celtic dance band and wonderfully monikered Baka Beyond whose fiery rhythms, enchanting harmonies and spectacular dancing will mesmerise and thrill in equal measure. The uniquely multinational Afrobeat band Baraka, which boasts members from Ghana, Senegal, Dominca and, bizarrely Northern and Southern Ireland will be showcasing their fantastic blend of reggae, calypso, blues and soca. And finally yet more musical loveliness from the French Music Office in the form of Chapelier Fou (or Mad Hatter in English) who blend classical melodies and arrangement with electronic beats and soundscapes.

Leading the charge with the latest comedy additions to the Wychwood line-up is none-other-than comedy stalwart Robin Ince. Having started his comedy career as a writer, working on shows including Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression, V Graham, Norton and Meet Ricky Gervais, his first of many collaborations with the Extras star, Ince appeared with Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Jimmy Carr in the 2001 Edinburgh show Rubbernecker, and regularly supports Gervais on tour. He also appeared in one episode of The Office, playing interviewee Stewart Foot. That role inspired his tongue-in-cheek solo Edinburgh debut in 2004, and he has returned to the Fringe every year since. In 2005 he started erudite comedy night The Book Club, loosely based around bad literature, which won him the innovation award at the 2006 Chortle Awards as well as the outstanding contribution to comedy accolade at that year’s Time Out awards. In 2007, he was named best compere at the Chortle Awards.

Ray Peacock is a well known writer and comedian who, as well as headlining at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for several years, has compered and written shows for the BBC. One of the most famous characters Ian created was a brash, loud Yorkshire man called Ray Peacock and had several successful shows appearing as him. Unfortunately, this character is no more but Ian continues to use the name “Ray Peacock” as his comedic stage name to avoid confusion with his other activities such as acting and writing.

Iszi Lawrence is a comedian to watch. The awkward atheist poses a lean figure onstage that is counterbalance to the crackle of intelligent, silly jokes that drum through her. She’s resident compere of the Lil Fat Comedy Club Witney, has had sell out shows at the Camden, Brighton, Oxfringe and Edinburgh fringe. Her debut show Matter of Tact was Time Out Recommended and London Lite Comedy Pick. Radio credits include appearances on BBC Radio 1 s The Milkrun, BBC radio Oxford’s Breakfast show and BBC 7 as a BBC New Comedy Award semi-finalist, 2005. She has also written and performed for Resonance FM’s The Ten Minute Sketch Show. Iszi is host compere of The Lil’ Fat Comedy Club.

Last but by no means least on the comedy front, Matt Richardson was a finalist in both So You Think You’re Funny 2010 and The Chortle Student Comedy Award 2010 as well as being the 2010 winner of the Newbury Comedy Festival’s new act competition “You Must be Joking”, all by the age of 19. Matt is a young starter, who has regularly proved that he can cut it with the big boys. “Full of verve and energy …quirky asides brought sparkle to his act…undeniably well-told.” – Chortle

Widely regarded as the UK’s most family friendly festival, Wychwood has been nominated for the ‘Best Family Festival’ award at the UK Festival Awards every year since its launch. All tickets are available by visiting the official festival website www.wychwoodfestival.com or by calling the festival office on +44 1993 772580.

Friday Adult tickets are priced at £37, Saturday Adult are £53 and Sunday Adults are £43, all tickets and prices are available from www.wychwood.com. Adult weekend tickets are priced at £115 plus an additional £10 general camping pass and can be purchased from the festival box office on 01993 772580, Ticketmaster.co.uk on 0844 847 1681, WeGotTickets.com or SeeTickets.com. There are also Youth concessions (16-18yrs) available at £95 (full weekend) and 10-15yrs weekend tickets for £55. Under 10’s go for free with each adult ticket allowing two free under 10’s. For more information visit the website www.wychwoodfestival.com.