WOWfest 2012 Postponed

Following consultations and full consideration, it is with heavy hearts and much regret that we have been forced to announce the postponement of WOWfest 2012.

Putting the festival together, in what is proving to be a very challenging year and with damage inflicted by anti-festival lobbyists, was more difficult than we anticipated. We have spent the last year fighting hard to establish and keep WOWfest in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that this is no longer possible to achieve in 2012.

Although great confidence had initially been shown by the Isle of Wight Council to grant a Premises License for 18,000 rising to 22,000 capacity over a three year period and to further grant permission to run an event of that size under the Isle of Wight Act there are many forces trying to prevent the event happening. There is no doubt of the WOWfest team operational capabilities to deliver such an event.

However, the Isle of Wight Act conditions imposed by the council on the 18^th May required a lump sum payment of over £140,000 for Council and Emergency Services to be brought forward to the 31^st May. The conditions also stipulated the need for a financial bond of an unspecified and potentially unlimited amount to be made to the Isle of Wight Council.

WOW Festivals Ltd informed the Isle of Wight Council and responsible authorities, before the payment deadline for over £140,000 under the Isle of Wight Act fell due, that WOWfest would revert to run a downsized event – under the size (5,000) at which the Isle of Wight Act is invoked. However, the Isle of Wight Council rejected a minor variation application to voluntarily reduce the capacity and hours of operation on our Premises Licence and the Police decided to call for a full licence review, at the start of the Jubilee weekend. Undue and untimely pressure has resulted in one of the organisers suffering a stroke over the Jubilee weekend.

The planned event for 2012 will need to be postponed. Alternatives have been briefly assessed but time is against us and therefore the only sensible decision is to cancel WOWfest 2012 on the Isle of Wight and look to the future in 2013.

Ticket holders for WOWfest 2012 will be refunded.

Whilst we will be in touch with them all separately, in addition to this announcement, we want to openly express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the people, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proved to be a monumental task when there have been so many people determined to destabilise the event with negative publicity and actions. We also want to send a huge thanks to the partners and people who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can’t fulfil what we set out to do in 2012. 

Article posted by Musicmafia

WOWfest features 2012 winner of Live and Unsigned

This summer’s explosive new music festival WOWfest (17th – 19th August, Isle of Wight), along with 13 other top UK festivals hosts the 2012 winner of the UK's largest battle of the bands music competition, Live and Unsigned.

Live and Unsigned auditions started in January leading up to the National Finals at the UK’s Largest indoor music festival, Live Fest (14th July, 02 Arena). The competition will be judged by a panel of music industry gurus from National Radio 1, Kerrang, BBC Introducing, Regional Press and record labels including Radio 1’s Annie Knightingale MBE, Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker, former Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim and many more to be announced!

The overall winner of Live and Unsigned 2012 will receive the exclusive opportunity to play WOWfest’s main stage on Friday 17th August. Sharing the main stage over the weekend are the likes of Norman Jay MBE, The Selecter and Aswad, with more still to be announced. In addition the winner of Live and Unsigned’s acoustic music sub category will play WOWfest’s new and local talent stage, Shaved Fish.

Only in its first year, WOWfest’s features an electric mix of House, Reggae, Ska Jazz, World, Disco, Dance, Dubstep and Drum and Bass music including House legends Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling, Reggae stars UB40, Junior Marvin of Bob Marley's Wailers and Maxi Priest as well as Ska originals The Selecter and The Beat to name a few. On top of a spectacular line up the festival features Ubuntu, WOWfest’s African Village, as well as a vintage fun fair, workshops, theatre performances and afterhours comedy club and swirling burlesque.

The Live and Unsigned 2012 winner will also play Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters, Sundown, Strawberry Fields Festival, Cloud 9 Festival, Glass Butter Beach, Bingley Music Live, Cockermouth Rock Festival, Brownstock, WOWFest, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Just So Festival, Stockton Weekender, London Summer Jam and Lancaster Music Festival as well as receive a cash prize of £10,000.

To enter Live and Unsigned visit http://www.liveandunsigned.uk.com/enter-now

Live and Unsigned Grand Final 14th July 2012 , The O2 London

http://www.liveandunsigned.uk.com/music-showcase

WOWfest 17th - 19th August. 2012, Isle of Wight

www.wowfest.co.uk

www.facebook.com/WOWfest

www.twitter.com/wowfestiow

Article posted by Musicmafia

WOWfest Shaved Fish Showcases New and Exciting Talent

The Shaved Fish stage at WOWfest this August will be showcasing the new and exciting music on offer from the Isle of Wight and the rest of the England, with local bands and others travelling from places such as Southampton, London and Derby. There is an intentionally eclectic mix of music on offer from the curators of Shaved Fish, which is a result of their high drive to create a unique experience with a real WOW factor that differs from night to night…

On Friday expect to hear an acoustic orientated night with hints of folk and country. Saturday steps up to an Indie rock night with a very exciting new band at the top of the bill, and on Sunday to finish the weekend there is a full on Psychedelia night. It’s a great place to discover something new and enjoy the already excellent WOWfest vibe – created by headline acts such as UB40, Heaven 17 and Madeleine Peyroux, and top DJs including Paul Oakenfold Danny Rampling and Bez from The Happy Mondays.

The team behind Shaved Fish are three island musician amigos Charlie Harris, James Thorpe and Shaun Barker. The trio have used their time and resources wisely to book some excellent music. 

Charlie is a current university student, studying Music Management and Studio production, alongside juggling a few musical projects and producing artists and bands. Born and raised on the Isle of Wight he entered the music scene at the age of 13, playing in bands and attending local gigs, soaking up what the island has to offer. With a good knowledge of new and fresh music, along with a love for music from previous decades, it is his goal to create an exciting line-up for the Shaved Fish Stage.

James is a self confessed music snob, with a primitive vintage studio set up in the top floor of his Ventnor house and co-running a label under the name Red Squirrel with Shaun and Charlie, he is certainly a man to know if you're in the island scene. James, along with the other two, entered music through playing in a band and live performance, but has followed his interests and ended up in the field of production and recording. His connection to the network of Isle of Wight musicians has proved valuable in the booking of some great music from the island.

Shaun and James come as a pair - it’s rare you'll find them creating music more than 10 feet from each other. As teenagers playing in band together for 8 years and attending the same schools, their interests are naturally fairly mutual. Shaun's involvement in music is, like the others, in production and engineering music and co-running the studio with James, his input into the music made is vital to the Red Squirrel sound.

For these three island lads, this is great personal development in their chosen industry. Not only have they had full control over the musical programming of the Shaved Fish, they also have to organise the whole show. They are doing this with the guidance of the older members of the team but they have met the job full on with energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment. Instead of running competitions like many other festivals, they did email auditions with MP3s and made a selection from thousands of applicants off the island and on the island. The line up is their choice of high quality emerging and current sounds from psychedelia, Indie, jazz to shoegazing and we are pleased to see they chose The Shutes, Pale Seas, JC & Angelina, Raff, Faber, Wos, Kris and Kaf alongside Hugh Verey (founder of Wight Salads now retired).

The Shutes are a widely anticipated 4 piece Alternative Indie Surf band from the Isle of Wight, whose catchy riffs get mass audiences going in their home turf. Recently touring in Europe, The Shutes have released their new EP “Echo of Love” which will be part of their set on the Shaved Fish Stage at WOWfest 2012. The Shutes feature Rob Potter on bass, Chris Jones on drums, Michael Champion on vocals/guitar and David Champion on guitar.

Pale Seas, from Southampton, is a young band tinged with Americana folk jarred with English self-deprication and an intimate nocturnal sound to melt any heart.

Island born brother and sister, JC and Angelina, are well known on the island circuit and to festivals and clubs far afield. Their recordings are original material.

Experience the unique sounds of the Shaved Fish at WOWfest, which runs from 17th - 19th August. 2012. Tickets are available, still promotionally priced at £99 for adult weekenders, from www.wowfest.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter: #WOWfestIOW and Facebook: WOWfest. To receive WOWfest Newsletters, send your email address to enquiries@wowfest.co.uk.

www.facebook.com/WOWfest

www.twitter.com/wowfestiow

WOWfest is proud to partner the following charities: Oxfam, Solar Aid, Building Schools for Africa, Sustrans, Vegfam and the IW NHS Juba project.

Location:

WOWfest Global Party is under St Martin’s Down, off the A3020 Shanklin Road (between Canteen Road and Apse Manor Road) on the Isle of Wight. Nearby are Shanklin (walking distance), Ventnor (reasonable walking distance), Godshill. From the top of the festival fields you have magnificent views across the rural landscape of the Isle of Wight to the white cliffs of Sandown Bay and across to the Spinaker Tower in Portsmouth on the mainland.

Festival timings:

Car Parks open for anyone arriving earlier than expected – 10am Thursday 16th August

Campers gates open – from Thursday 16th August 2012 at Midday.

Non-campers gates open – from Friday 17th August 2012 at 9am.

Departure time – Monday 21st August 2012 by 2pm at the latest.

Markets open from Thursday 16th August 2012.

Late refreshments available.

Bars open 10am – 2am

Live Music until Midnight

Cabaret, Burlesque, Acoustic, Comedy until 2am

WOW Club Nights until 2.30am (2am on Sunday)

Ticket Prices:

Adult Weekender – introductory early birds ONLY £99

Islander Adult Weekender – £120

Adult Weekender – Full Price £140

Student Weekender – 13 to 17 yr olds £95

Student Weekender – 13-17 yr olds introductory early bird £85

Young Weekender – 12 yrs & under (limited numbers) FREE

Adult Camping Pass £20

Student Camping Pass (accompanied 13-17 yr olds) FREE

Young Camping Pass (accompanied 12s & under) FREE

Car Parking Weekend Permit £30

Car Parking Day Permit £15

Day tickets – (limited numbers) £75

Day tickets – 12 yrs & under (limited numbers) FREE

Article posted by Musicmafia

UB40 Headline massive UK reggae lineup at Wowfest

Wowfest August 17th - 19th 2012

Wowfest - the UK's brightest and biggest new festival for 2012 - has pulled off a spectacular double coup as they announced further headliners for Saturday & Sunday night with the world's biggest selling reggae band UB40 playing one of their only UK festival appearances this year on Saturday Aug 18th. With a string of top ten hits to their name, UB40 head up a quite outstanding reggae line-up of living legends that already includes the likes of Finley Quaye, The Wailers, Aswad, Maxi Priest and Misty in Roots alongside another dozen acts in what promises to be the finest collection of reggae artistes anywhere in the UK this year.

And there was further excitement from the Wow camp with news of the exclusive UK appearance of Madeleine Peyroux, from USA, on Sunday on the Blue Angel Stage, for what is to be a great treat for fans of her jazz/folk bohemian style, once discovered busking in the streets of Paris with her soul shaking songs and haunting voice likened to Billie Holliday. This follows the Saturday headline appearance of The Overtones - 5 Irish/English boys updating the swing and fun of be-bop and dee-wop and bringing some good old style back into the modern UK jazz scene. 

The Blue Angel Stage features some exquisite Jazz acts including the recognisably Jamaican inspired lilts of jazz party trombonist Dennis Rollins in the Velocity Trio and Dominican Cameron Pierre, Dixie chicks Larkin Poe, plus The London Community Gospel Choir, with some more outstanding live appearances still to be announced, ensuring the most impressive selection of Jazz acts in the UK for 2012

And the global party that is Wowfest continues to gathers pace in the afterhours Club Nights with the addition of Roni Size alongside Smith and Mighty for superlative jungle/dubstep/drum and bass night on Friday, whilst Peter Hook, until recently of New Order fame, joins Marshall Jefferson on the ones and twos in a closing Madchester Hacienda themed after hours party on Sunday.

And with the addition of the Alabama 3, Heaven 17, 808 State, Kitten and the Hip, The Pretty Things, and The Blockheads to the Main and Global Stages, with plenty more support acts as well as headliners still to be announced, Wowfest is already shaping up to be an iconic event, with an eclectic mix of House, Reggae, Ska, Jazz, Global and Dance that is already seeing a few envious eyes cast by established festival organisers - with the emphasis firmly on quality rather than excessive quantity of fillers that can sometimes blight other festival line-ups

Tickets are on sale from the event website for a bargain early bird weekend £99 (including free travel on Southern Vectis buses) for limited period only, and many have already snapped up since the announcement of  Paul Oakenfold, Soul 11 Soul, The Beat, Norman Jay, Danny Rampling, The Selecter, Bad Manners, Neville Staple of the Specials, Bez from the Happy Mondays' acid house night, Manos De Dios, Black Roots, Talisman and host of other top names all appearing at Wowfest over the weekend - and with a lot more to come yet.

Wowfest also sees a very promising stage for newer acts evolving - The Shaved Fish stage highlights global and local up and coming bands ensuring that plenty of young unsigned and Isle of Wight talent gets to share the event with some of the classiest live performers alive today. Local and unsigned acts are invited to contact Wowfest HQ to apply for an opportunity to play - see the event website www.wowfest.co.uk for more info about opportunities to perform and get involved with Wowfest - including catering and trading concessions, volunteer stewards and other opportunities to join the festival.

And with a strong green ethos, an emphasis on veggie, locally sourced and organic food, and a tantalizing looking selection of workshops and activities for kids and families in the African Village, plus some fabulous comedy, cabaret, theatre, performance, circus and walkabout, there's plenty more going on than just the superb musical line-up to ensure a truly memorable weekend at what promises to be one of the friendliest and enjoyable weekends this summer

WOWfest is also proud to partner the following charities: Oxfam, Solar Aid, Building Schools for Africa, Sustrans, Vegfam and the IW NHS Juba project.

Tickets are available from www.wowfest.co.uk. 

Follow us on Twitter: #WOWfestIOW 

Article posted by Musicmafia

WOW festival 2012

Plenty of WOW Factor as Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Maxi Priest and The Wailers play WOWfest

House legends Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling, and reggae stars Junior Marvin of Bob Marley's Wailers and Maxi Priest are amongst the first headliners for this summer's brightest new festival in August on the Isle of Wight - WOWfest, a 3 day music extravaganza on August 17th - 19th  featuring some of the world's top acts in what promises to be one of the most outstanding global parties of the year.

Top name DJ's and a strong reggae line-up dominate the bill so far, with many more names still to be announced, and if you like to party, then WOWfest will be exceeding all expectations with some of the world's biggest names gathered for the weekend. Friday night sees an impressive start with the Mondays' maracas man Bez's Acid House Night twisting a few melons on the Global Stage with his Madchester madness, whilst dubstep originators Smith and Mighty & special guests rock the  One World tent. On Saturday DJ uber-legend Paul Oakenfold takes to the decks to head up an impressive looking Club Yeyo Italia 90 club night on the Global Stage with Danny Rampling & a live set from 808State, and on Sunday, Norman Jay opens the Main Stage alongside Soul 11 Soul before US house maestro Marshall Jefferson headlines a Hacienda - themed closing party to bring the global celebration that is WOWfest to a grand finale, before the expected 20,000 party goers head off into the sunset with a head full of beats, a soul full of love, and a feelgood factor that only the best events provide.

WOWfest boasts a mightily impressive reggae line-up too, with live sets from original acts including Junior Marvin of Bob Marley's Wailers, with UK reggae legends Maxi Priest and Aswad joining Misty in Roots, Black Roots, Macka B and Talisman in what is already the best reggae bill of the year in the UK - with a very special headline act on Saturday still to be announced. And on Sunday there's a particularly strong collection of original ska bands on show including The Beat, The Selecter, Neville Staple of the Specials fame, and Bad Manners ensuring a lively all - day and evening session before the nights come alive at the 6 different Club Nights being hosted across the site over the weekend.

There's also some quality World and Jazz acts on over the weekend, including the likes of Manos De Dios, Terrakota and Baka Beyond on the One World Stage, whilst the Blue Angel Stage plays host to some top performances with Joe Cang, The Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio, Gregg Kofi Brown and Sarah Jane Morris gracing the arena, before the big top transforms into an afterhours swirling burlesque and comedy club. And with the Shaved Fish stage hosting a number of younger up and coming acts, plus the African Village, featuring performance from the Kakatsitsi Master Drummers and others, as well as hosting workshops and ceremonies with activities for all ages, alongside some spectacular theatre, performance and walkabout, there truly is something for everyone going on at WOWfest.

But of course, it's not just about the headliners and entertainment - in this day and age a successful festival must have a high level of eco-awareness to ensure that the footprint of the festival is sustainable. WOWfest provides for eco-conscious festival tourism, encouraging festival - goers to travel the island by bus or bike, not car. The Sunshine Trail cycle route goes right through to the festival, and Island buses are free with WOWfest tickets, so you can take a bus to the site if you don’t fancy the cycling. WOWfest and its sponsoring partners are encouraging festival - related tourism on the Island without cars, as well as using alternative energy sources, preserving water and minimizing waste in a sustainability plan commissioned at the outset. And there's a great choice of food and shopping at WOWfest too, with the emphasis on fair trade, organic and vegetarian as well as locally sourced produce (including workshops from celebrity TV chef Richard Fox with his Love Food Hate Waste cookery roadshow), ensuring WOWfest meets the highest eco standards right from day one – even managing to include an appearance from the UK's greenest band The Phoenix Rose!

WOWfest is a festival whose time has truly come, and thousands are expected to snap up the best priced £99 early bird tickets, which are on sale from the event website www.wowfest.co.uk, before the other headliners and support acts are announced. For details of all the acts playing at WOWfest this year please visit the website www.wowfest.co.uk

WOWfest is also proud to partner the following charities: Oxfam, Solar Aid, Building Schools for Africa, Sustrans, Vegfam and the IW NHS Juba project.

Tickets are available from www.wowfest.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter: #WOWfestIOW and Facebook: WOWfest. To receive WOWfest Newsletters, send your email address to enquiries@wowfest.co.uk.

Ticket Prices:

• Adult Weekender – introductory early birds ONLY £99
• Islander Adult Weekender – limited offer (Island postcodes only) £120
• Adult Weekender – Full Price £140
• Student Weekender – 13 to 17 yr olds £95
• Student Weekender – 13-17 yr olds introductory early bird £85
• Young Weekender – 12 yrs & under (limited numbers) FREE
• Adult Camping Pass £20
• Student Camping Pass (accompanied 13-17 yr olds) FREE
• Young Camping Pass (accompanied 12s & under) FREE
• Car Parking Weekend Permit £30
• Car Parking Day Permit £15
• Day tickets – (limited numbers) £75
• Day tickets – 12 yrs & under (limited numbers) FREE

Article posted by Musicmafia