Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Changes to music festival with more park performances
Organisers of a popular music festival in the city centre have confirmed changes for this year’s event – the centrepiece of which will be a two-day family-friendly open-air show at the Dane John Gardens.
Those behind the City Sound Project, which last year attracted thousands of music fans to venues across the city, say they are keen to grow the outdoor show after expanding into the park for the first time in 2017.
As a consequence, the show, CSP in the Park, will be staged over the weekend of the May Day bank holiday on May 5 and 6.
The original City South Project festival, which last year saw a string of shows performed at 13 venues, will be reduced to one day – the Sunday of the late May bank holiday, May 27.
Blake Mccaskill, of Republic Events, says it is time the festival, which started in 2012, grew to meet demand.
He said: “Firstly, we’d like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank everyone that’s supported CSP over the last few years. City Sound Project is now firmly on not only Canterbury’s but Kent’s calendar.
“It’s nationally recognised, been mentioned in national press and award-nominated, while still in its infancy.
“But we must evolve: after the huge success of our expansion into Dane John Gardens, we’ve decided to really develop that area of the event.”
There will be two stages set up with family-friendly music and spoken- word performances. There will also be a food court, children’s workshops and boutique bars.
Although no artists have yet been confirmed for this year’s line-up, previous performers have included The Rifles, Bastille, George Ezra and White Lies.
Among other plans for this year will be a major event at the Marlowe Theatre on May 6, in addition to a host of other one-off events throughout May.
Mr Mccaskill said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer a more extensive, inclusive and broader festival, while occupying more space and across more days than ever before.”
Ticket details and performance details will be confirmed over the coming weeks.