Kentish Express Ashford & District
Festival’s Saturday switch and line-up announced
The line-up for Create Music Festival’s 21st birthday event has been announced.
But festival-goers will have to wait a bit longer to find out who this year’s headliners are going to be.
Ashford’s Victoria Park will once again host one of the South East’s biggest free music festivals, but there is a big change for 2016, with the event taking place on a Saturday – July 23 – rather than the usual Sunday.
The day will feature a packed programme of music with more than 40 local bands, solo performers, choirs and DJs performing.
The Create Main Stage, sponsored by Ashford College, includes popular local favourites Riskee & The Ridicule, Old Town Souls and Slam Cartel, all supported by Ashford College Music Technology students working behind the scenes.
The new Fountain Stage, sponsored by Right Track Music, will again showcase a host of up-and-coming musicians that emerge from the school, as well as community groups, choirs and young local talent.
Ashford’s premier music and arts venue, Revelation St Mary’s, has added an eclectic programme of singersongwriters and young folk and indie acts.
Announcements are yet to be made about who will be playing on the Create DJ stage, but the organisers say an awesome line-up will be laying down the very best of house, dance and club anthems.
Following on from last year’s memorable performance from Adam Ant, the festival is still keeping all the headline acts under wraps, but promise music fans that they are in for an equally impressive musical treat this year.
To get people in the mood for Create, two warm-up gigs will be held at Revelation St Mary’s in the run-up to the festival, with local bands and high-profile acts performing.
Create Festival organiser Chris Dixon said: “We are so happy with the line-up so far, and we were blown away with the huge amount of applications we received to play at this year’s festival.
“All entries were judged by a panel of music experts including radio DJs, creative directors, venue managers and music promoters, all of which were very impressed by the high standard of acts.
“With only around 40 slots available on the day, it was a tough decision selecting the acts and getting the mix right. However, we are committed to keeping all the applicants on file to see whether we can help get them high-profile support slots at St Mary’s, programmed in on the town-centre bandstand and other opportunities.”