Staffs Fest 2019

Staffs Fest is brought together by Stafford based LR Partnership, a popular annual music festival that has already made its mark on the UK music scene attracting local, regional and national musicians and audiences from all over the UK. The festival which celebrates its fifth year in 2019 is held at Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge near Stafford ST19 5RE Having used a single large performance stage in the first three years to host all acts, this year the Main stage caters for Rock, Blues, Britpop, Glam Rock, Folk and Soul lovers. In 2018 they introduced a second marquee which this year will house 22 Northern Soul DJs playing only vinyl. Staffs Fest 2019 will underline the growing success of the event with the introduction of a third marquee which will host Reggae Rockz 2019 production by Basil Gabbidon one of the founder members of Steel Pulse which will host a mixture of Reggae, Ska, Jazz, Funk and 2Tone. Headlining in the Reggae Rockz Marquee is KIOKO currently touring with UB40. The festival is not one dimensional, in addition to the wide ranging live music on offer, there will be displays and workshops from local community groups including Bombay Jam, Balliamo Belly Dancers, Dance Fusion, Dance Nuvo and Stafford Salsa. There will be a range of food and drink vendors and retail stalls, clothing and ethnic outlets, whilst the beer marquee promises to never run out of beers and spirits throughout the weekend; all drinks will be at pub prices. As befitting a family orientated music festival, provision is made for younger members with free access to Lower Drayton Fun Farm, which includes everything from animal feeding to adventure playground. As with previous years, LR Partnership are allowing all children under 16 free admission throughout the festival weekend and must be booked at same time a responsible adult. Camping is FREE with all tickets types weekend, evening only, day/evening. Not camping, you can come and go freely from the festival. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times Promoting young Musicians in the Midlands A special annual competition organised to promote and support young local music talent within the Midlands area. Star in Staffs competition for under 18’s. Star In Staffs this year will be in association with Slater’s Stafford heats will take place at Slater’s bar in Stafford on the 28th of April and 5th of May to select finalists. Finalists will win the chance to play live at the festival and the winner will be picked by a panel of judges with a main prize of 2 days recording in a music studio with the production of a CD from sponsor Phoenix Music Studio Gaol Road in Stafford. On the panel of judges there will be John Davis from Erndor50 Promotions, Dean Phoenix from Phoenix Music Studio and Jon King of The Rock Dogs Call Rich on 07977 982884 for details of how to enter or nominate Community Spirit Partnership and Staffs Fest have been very active in supporting worthy causes within the local Midlands community over the last few years. For the first three The Festival championed the Millie Bea’s Walking Wish Charity which has raised an amazing £75,000 for a much-needed operation to help Millie to walk. Which she has now had and is doing remarkably well, Millie Bea attends the festival each year with her family and one of the marquees is named after her. Last year money was raised for AED Donate a charity for distributing defibrillators. We are delighted to announce the charity we are championing this year at Staffs Fest is Band of Builders A fantastic charity, the Band of Builders is the story of what happens when people unite to help others. It started with one man’s desire to help his friend in his hour of need and has grown into a global movement run by trade’s people, for trade’s people. Website [hidden] Stafford College Media students will be filming the festival as part of their college course criteria as they need three days off college campus work experience Main Marquee Doors Open Friday at 6 pm 6.30 Pig man and the Rubber Band 8.00 Hairy Eyeball 9.30 Hammered Saturday 10.30 Star in Staffs Final 12.00 Weston Rd 1.30 Sonic Harmony 3.00 Imaner 5.00 The Endings 6.30 Gin Sunday 8.00 Used Blues 9.30 Slyder Sunday 12.00 Juniper Wolf 1.15 My Stage Academy 2.15 Toasted Bones 3.30 JR Harbidge Band 5.15 Ellie Jones & the Giants 6.45 The Clays 8.15 The Lack of Commitments 9.45 Greg Murray & The Seven Wonders Marquee Reggae Rockz Marquee SATURDAY LINE UP Drum Workshops from 12 noon until 1 pm with Rocky Amoo 1 .30 - 2.00 Bollywood Bombay Jam Workshop, 3 pm - 4 pm Candice Gabbidon & DemeNus 4.00 DemeNus & the Riddim Matic Band, 5.15 - 6.00 Reggae Winehouse 6.30 - 7.30 Cutch-I , 7.30 Rocky Amoo 8.30 Headlining KIOKO Compere for Reggae Rockz DemeNus and Candice Gabbidon Finishing off the evening is Sam Kaseba AKA Dj Sam SUNDAY LINE UP Drumming workshops from 12 noon with Rocky Amoo 3.30 - 4.15 History of Reggae with Milton Godfrey and Rocky Amoo - Mento and how music has developed, 4.20 - 4.40 Thomas O’Flaherty, 5.00 - 5.45 Bobby Woods & Band 6.00 - 6.30 Ras Joseph, 6.45 -7.45 Black Symbol, 8.00 - 8.30 Rocky Ammo 8.45 - 9.45 Headlining - GABBIDON BAND Finishing off the evening is Sam Kaseba AKA Dj Sam Various personal appearances Marquee Mille Bea Marquee Northern Soul Weekender Saturday Dave Thomas, Les Beaton, Hitsville Chalky, Daz McQueen,Natalie Nicholls, Paul Cross, Dave Allen, Mitch Higginson, Ken Onions, Peter Leek, Jamie Carr.Little Scotty Sunday Mick Oakden, Mark Morris, Derek Banks, Julie McCormack,Woza Bennett, Bill Ward, Mick Moylan, Si Robinson & Kiera Robinson, Gary Lees, Vinyl only, OVO is down to the individual All bands are subject to change Optional camping is included on all ticket types with separate basic camping field for tents caravans and campers (Showers and toilets onsite - no electric hook up) Weekend ticket holders may arrive Thursday evening through until Monday afternoon. Please book free camping and under 16's ticket at the same time as weekend ticket one ticket per 'unit' Should you wish to stay longer please ask at Lower Drayton Farm direct Not camping, you can come and go freely from the festival Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times Disabled visitors Disabled visitors are welcome with access to a disabled parking bay which is located inside the main arena. The organiser's try to make the area as easy to access but do take into account the main arena is situated on a grass field. Parking at The Staffs Fest is totally free. The 76 or the 76A service run by Arriva bus from Stafford to Wolverhampton passes the festival site. Lower Drayton Farm has its very own bus stop at the top of the lane so just ask your driver to drop you off there. Once you are at the top of the lane its just a short walk down towards the festival site. Please take care as its a single track road so lookout for vehicles. Both Stafford and Penkridge have train stations which you can then catch the connecting 76 bus service or a taxi to get to the festival site. NB Lower Drayton Farm is an active and working unit so heavy machinery maybe coming down the tracks, also because the festival is situated in a field you may find some of the areas of the ground uneven.while we ensure your safety is upmost in our minds, we do not accept any liability for any injuries or accidents of any kind More Info below.