New event is perfect platform for festival

The buzz is building for Create Platform with a week-long programme of events across Ashford leading up to the annual music festival.

For the first time a mix of unique events will run in the week, from Friday to Sunday, July 14-23, including a range of themed exhibitions, concerts and street entertainment in different spaces in the town.

Events include Mr Doodle’s Studio in the Park Mall shopping centre where the walls, floor and ceiling will be covered in his art; street entertainers performing around the town centre; David Live, the David Bowie tribute show, will be returning due to popular demand for a two-hour show; and there will be lots of activities around the Hubert Fountain in Victoria Park, to celebrate the 176th birthday of Mr George Harper, the man who gifted the Grade II-listed monument to the park.

Create organiser Chris Dixon said: “Create Platform will launch this year and we can’t wait. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase even more of Ashford’s local talent and help build the buzz ahead of the festival.”

Cllr Mike Bennett, Ashford council portfolio holder for culture, said: “Create is growing year by year, and while it has always hosted a range of spin-off events, Create Platform is a nice way to bring it all together.

“I hope it will soon be recognised as another great cultural event in Ashford’s calendar year.”

For a full list of the Platform events leading up to the Create Festival visit www.createfestival. co.uk

David Bowie tribute act, David Live, is part of Create Platform