A NEW-LOOK Wokingham Festival is being planned for this August bank holiday, featuring more live music than ever before.
The annual event will once again take place in Cantley Park, but due to popular demand, this year will feature an extra day of fun.
The family-friendly event’s new third day is going to be a celebration of progressive and classic rock and will be the first under a new partnership between Wokingham Festival’s organiser Stan Hetherington and White Star Records/Magick Eye Records founder Chris Hillman.
Headliners will be Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash – celebrating 50 years this year.
Also on the bill will be Wokingham Festival favourites Flutatious offering a unique brand of psychedelic folk rock.
UK-based prog rock trio Kepler Ten will be on-hand to dish out a tsunami of modern prog rock, and fans of the classics will be treated by R2, a tribute to prog rock band Rush.
And local acts get a look-in too.
Four-piece band The Paradox Twin and Reading-based rock sextet The Room will be wowing audiences.
Chris Hillman, who runs White Star Records alongside producer and musician John Mitchell, said it was his experience of the festival that made him want to see the record company team up with the popular local event.
“I’ve been to Stan’s Wokingham Festival in the past and have always been impressed with the very good organisation and atmosphere,” he said.
“I was therefore more than happy to accept when Stan asked me if I’d help him create a new extra day for the festival this year featuring some of our artists.
“It’s wonderful to be involved with the event.”
And Stan, who is currently preparing to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise funds for brain injury charity Headway Thames Valley, was equally pleased with the partnership.
“It’s great to have respected and growing record labels such as White Star Records based in Wokingham,” he said. “To be able to work with Chris and the team there to create a new day at the festival featuring some of their artists with other rock and prog acts that have appeared at the Wokingham Music Club previously is very exciting.”
The Wokingham Festival will include music on Saturday and Sunday, and throughout the weekend there will be a real ale festival organised by Ian Wisdom and his team from Twyford Beer Festival. This will raise funds for the male cancer charity Orchid.
And, as with last year, there will be a second stage set up and plenty of activities for youngsters to enjoy thanks to Circus Scene.
There will also be food stalls featuring some of the finest street food in the Thames Valley.
Early bird tickets are now on sale.
For more details, log on to www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk
