08/09/2024
Well, it's taken me a week to write but then you can do that to people Faversham Hopfestival, - now comes a personal thank you ...
Who am I? The guy that has worked with Hop Festival for 15+ years and stepped away in '23 so I could see and enjoy it rather than running around like a mad man doing my bit to keep the machine running with others of the team. Didn't quite work out that way for '24, but I still got to some of the acts I'd earmarked, and particularly:-
Half Dozen - a group of 14 year olds who shone as part of our ongoing initiative to support and help give voice to those looking at a possible career in music - keep up the good work you lot.
Kelly Bourne Music and the KB Collective - literally tears of joy in my eyes at this one for seeing a lady realise herself and her music with a first album release (Cause of the Consequence), all original music and a fantastic support band. Kelly your soaring voice gave me wings and I closed my eyes to feel every lived and crafted word of that album, thank you for letting us into your soul.
Collateral - you closed the Preston Street new music and rock stage, closed the festival and officially closed my link to hop festival entertainment. With a second album launched in May that went straight to no. 2 in the UK Rock charts these guys are awesome and the 45 minute taster they gave to see us all off for another year was my festival highlight.
Personal thank you to founding members Angelo Tristan (vocals/guitar) and Jack Bentley-Smith (bass), Louis Malagodi (guitar) and engine room Ben on drums - I know we were punching way above our weight to get you here for this performance and I'd just like to say how it exemplifies the values I've always seen in the group of honesty, integrity and truth.
Excellent songwriting, brilliant performance and just a damn nice bunch of guys who haven't forgotten their journey and how important their success can be to inspiring those that will inevitably follow - thank you once again.
If you missed them get down to Margate Rock Festival on 26th October where I'll be seeing them with a number of other great acts at this brilliant new event on the scene, put together by Jake Cook.
As a part of my parting I was lucky enough to meet Jake at the festival and talk about how a future collaboration could help platform new artists. He made a very interesting comment - with what we have in Faversham, ESPECIALLY with the arrival of Eliott Barr-Macallan and partner Andrea at Saturnalia in town plus the rise of venues like the Railway and, under its new stewardship, our very own Market Inn, Faversham , there is everything needed to help promote, highlight, develop and give a foothold for new acts across all genres.
A dream of being able to take an act from busking in the street through pub performances to club performance at venues like The Alexander Centre, Faversham and The Old Brewery Store, onto a festival stage is within reach.
So many to mention and thank including all the pubs that engaged with us this year;
Andy Holliday for helping birth the new community stage in Stone Street against a lot of odds
The volunteers on the ground
All the entertainment (which includes all the street vendors and stall holders)
The sponsors and those that paid ÂŁ2 for a programme (created by Jim, Joe and crew at Spaced - see Cene magazine)
Colin Umbers and AAA for the sound and Rosie with the campsite crew
Colin "20K per day step count" Jones for the work on fundraising and on the day physical graft
Bill Fowler for delivering another safe and successful official event with solid shifts 10am start and 6pm finish in the licensed footprint of the town centre
The other trustees on the team making sure it happened
Alison Reynolds for stepping up to cover volunteer management on Sunday
John & Boo Fortescue (just because - those that know ... know)
Allan Swan for your energy and making me laugh
To Maisy Beth Music, Ben Gower, John Payne, Nick Luckham, Mike Wheeler, Bob Kenward, Sally Jane Hurst (you know why)
Josh Rowlands for being the coolest Mayor with support for youth at his heart
Harold Goodwin of Open Faversham for nudging me relentlessly into creating the first draft "history of hopping and hop festival" presentation shown in the Visitor Centre plus town council for letting us use the space to display it with all the programme cover entries from our participating young artists
Christy-Anne from Prolectrical for shifts on the official merch stand in the car park - Hannah Wallis and Matt for the same (by the way, Hannah still has 2 hop festival coasters she made if you want to grab them ... PM us if so).
There are so many many more but the last and really important thank you's must go to my business partner Rachel Wynn and family for the support plus the on the ground damn hard work the lady puts in throughout the year and on the days of the festival (25K per day step count), Shepherd Neame for their unwavering and continued support both financial and otherwise and ALL OF YOU that came ... "ain't no festival without the people" ;)
Mike Bradley, Mike and Mary Henderson, Keith "Philip" Davis - RIP and know the difference you made ...
As Bon Scott said at the end of AC/DC Highway to Hell album, "Shazbot, Na-nu Na-nu" (Robin Williams, Mork & Mindy) ...
On that note, see you all in 2025 on the weekend following the bank holiday - I will be partying somewhere ;)
Attached pics and links:-
Collateral "through the ages" at Hop Festival as they went from stage to stage, ending up where they started to say "Adieu" ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2QdvUkTDOw
https://www.collateralofficial.com/
Margate Rock Festival - https://www.seetickets.com/event/margate-rock-festival/ballroom-dreamland/2953796
https://www.dreamland.co.uk/event/margate-rock-festival/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555873983942
Cause of the Consequence album - available direct and also at the record store Saturnalia (ÂŁ10 for cash sale)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqhEugR4-10
https://buy.stripe.com/3csaGO2t9bJAfe08ww
https://open.spotify.com/album/235sMBBXvHhVEuqYaHeRgk
Hop Festival hand made wooden coaster
Shorelinesally - https://www.instagram.com/shorelinesally/
"The Spirit of Sunday"
Entrepreneur - passionate about music, the planet, technology and the impact it has on society
