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LeftLion had a natter with Julia Thistleton-Smith, Newstead's Business Mentor as part of the BBC and National Lottery initiative 'Village SOS', who is organising the Headstock Festival to help kick-start the regenerarion of Newstead Village...
What is the Headstock Festival?
Headstock is a new festival for the East Midlands which will be held on September 11th at the Newstead and Annesley Country Park just north of Nottingham. We have 3 stages with Ash, Field Music, Frightened Rabbit, Penguin Café and Edward ii as well as a BBC Introducing Stage with great regional talent, and a House Music dance arena from DiY/Smokescreen and Area 23 from UDS/Desert Storm both areas feature top name D.J.s such as Charles Webster, Inland Knights, Simon Dk, Digs & Woosh, DJ Ratty, Vinyl Junkie, etc. It's also a great day out for families with a dedicated kids area – Kidstock, featuring drum, pottery and jewellery workshops, storytelling, puppet shows, kite-making and an innovative laughter workshop amongst other attractions.
Why was Newstead Village chosen as the place for the festival?
Newstead Village which was established with the opening of the coal mine over a century ago, had it’s community devastated by it’s closure in 1987. While the village still suffers deprivation, the community of Newstead has retained an exceptional spirit and can-do attitude. The passion of the community was recognised this year when it won a place on the Village SOS programme, a scheme set up by BBC One and the Big Lottery Fund to inspire a rural regeneration via social enterprise.
How did the idea for the festival come about?
Newstead's bid included using the experience gained from putting on Treefest – a community festival which has run for 10 years – to create a new music festival for the East Midlands. The vision is to create a laid back, family friendly, eclectic, quirky and inspirational festival which grows to a three day event and becomes hotly anticipated on the festival calendar. All profits will go straight back to the community enterprise and will either be re-invested to future growth or ploughed straight back into helping the community.
How easy or difficult has it been to put the festival together?
It’s been a real challenge to put the festival together. Most festivals plan 12 months in advance – we’ve had literally 3 months from start to finish and wow has there been a lot to do. Getting great acts at short notice isn’t easy but we’ve had amazing support from people like Ash – who are coming back early from their South African Tour especially to help the community and from local D.J.’s such as Digs and Woosh who’ve got heavily involved in the planning side of things. The community has really helped us pull off such an amazing line up – we’ve got over 100 people signed up to help so far and there is no way we could be doing it without their involvement.
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| Ash - Headstock Headliners |
Is there much more to organise?
Always! I think we’ll be planning right up until the night before. There is so much we want to do and put on so we’re still finalising details of some of our incredible workshops – such as an eco-build taster (we’re building an eco-build visitor centre later in the year) and want to get more local campaigns involved to showcase some of the great work they are doing.
What can people expect at the Headstock Festival?
A great day and night out at exceptional value. We only a few a £20 tickets left but many people would expect to pay £20 to see just Ash alone – and we’ve got a sensational line up too. Even at the full price of £30 tickets are such good value and it was really important to us to keep ticket prices low to make the event as inclusive as possible. We have 5 stages and dance arenas, international headliners, amazing regional and rising talent, a big dedicated kids area, real ale and cider (and cocktails) from the Orange Tree Lounge and much more.
If I don't want to drink-drive or miss the last train home is there anywhere to stay?
Please camp – it’s £5 a head on the site next to the festival – it’s really beautiful up there. Also late trains will be running.
Is there anything you are particularly looking forward to?
Personally? Ash, Frightened Rabbit, Conil, the DiY crew, the laughter workshop and Sunday 12th September when I can relax.
Are there still any opportunities for people to get involved in the festival?
Yes there are but we only have a few roles still left to fill on the volunteer side of things so please get in touch quickly via our website or our Facebook site. We’re also still looking for craft and food stalls and for local charities to get involved. Unfortunately we don’t have any act/talent slots left.
Will the festival become an annual event or is it just a one off?
The vision is to become an annual event – growing Headstock to a three-day, hotly anticipated event on the UK festival calendar.
How can people buy tickets?
You can buy tickets online via We Got Tickets or from a couple of local outlets such as HMV and Fopp records, the Newstead Community Centre and Homemade Café.
Finally, any final words for the LeftLion readers?
Get your tickets now – early birds are almost gone. Thank you for your support.
Headstock Festival will take place on 11 September 2010 at Newstead & Annesley Country Park, Nottingham. For further information please visit the website.
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