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{{Short description|Annual music festival in Cumbria, UK.}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=October 2017}} |
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== Solway Festival (Solfest) == |
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{{infobox music festival | |
{{infobox music festival | |
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| music_festival_name = |
| music_festival_name = The Solway Festival |
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| image = [[Image: |
| image = [[Image:Solfest logo.jpg|240px]] |
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| location = Tarns, [[Cumbria]] |
| location = [[Tarns, Cumbria|Tarns]], [[Cumbria]] |
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| years_active= |
| years_active = 2004–present |
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| founders = The Solfest Committee |
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| dates = [[August Bank Holiday|August Bank Holiday weekend]] |
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| genre = [[Rock music |
| genre = [[Rock music]], [[alternative rock]], [[northern soul]], [[electronic dance music]], [[indie rock]], [[world music]], [[punk rock]], [[reggae]], [[Contemporary folk music|folk music]] |
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| website= http://www.solfest.co.uk |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Solfest''' is a music and arts festival on the [[Solway Coast]] in the [[North West England|North West]] of [[England]]. It is held annually at North Lakes Country Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend.<ref>[http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/solfest/2010/review-overview.shtml "Solfest is a great little place for a bank holiday weekend"]. ''eFestivals''. Review, 3rd Sep 2010.</ref> It has grown from a 1,800 capacity event in 2004 to a 10,000 capacity festival. Originally, the 2019 edition of Solfest was going be the last,<ref>{{cite web |title=Solfest 2019 - The Final Solfest |url=https://solfest.org.uk/news/solfest-2019-the-final-solfest |website=Solfest |accessdate=6 August 2019}}</ref> but due to new directors taking control of the festival and the turnout of the 2019 event being much higher than anticipated, Solfest will return in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solfest will return in 2020 |url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Solfest-will-return-in-2020-/54419/ |website=Skiddle |accessdate=13 September 2019}}</ref> |
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==Organisation== |
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The Solfest organisation was initially formed in September 2003 when a team of West Cumbrian festival-goers got together and made initial plans to create a festival of their own a little nearer to home. They were quickly joined by other interested parties and Solfest was run by a structured committee of sixteen permanent members until 2010 when the management structure changed. Solfest is now run by a smaller management team. |
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While Solway Festival Ltd is a registered company, the organisation operates as a [[social enterprise]] whereby all surplus income is reinvested into the organisation. Solfest is constituted in such a way that it does not allow any members of the Solfest Committee to make any financial gain from the festival. |
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==History== |
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The Solfest festival is operated by Solfest Ltd, a registered company. It is run as a constituted social enterprise by unpaid volunteers, and does not have any corporate sponsorship. The first festival took place over the weekend of 3–5 September 2004 on a {{convert|26|acre|m2|adj=on}} site at Tarnside Farm (approximately halfway between the towns of [[Aspatria]] and [[Silloth]]). About 1,800 people attended the festival in its first year. It currently hosts an annual crowd of up to 10,000 people. |
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The festival provides a variety of music. It has three large stages (Main stage, Drystone Stage & Bar Stage) as well as a [[dance music|dance]] tent. The festival also has dedicated welfare areas and children's play areas. Other activities are provided by visiting artists, which range from crafts and woodworking to entertainers and musicians. |
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'''Solfest''' is an annual [[music festival]] held near to [[Silloth]] in [[Cumbria]], [[England]]. It is held annually at Tarnside Farm on the August Bank Holiday weekend. |
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Solfest was cancelled in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|title=Virtual Festivals: Cumbria's Whitehaven and Solfest Festivals cancelled in 2014|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/news/14291|accessdate=15 October 2015}}</ref> but returned in 2015. In 2018, organisers initially announced that the 2019 festival would be the last edition of Solfest. This was attributed to falling attendance numbers, especially in 2018, and growing debts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solfest 2019 - The Final Solfest |url=https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/17868960.solfest-saved-thanks-show-support/ |
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It began in 2004 when a team of local enthusiastic festival goers got together and made plans to create a festival of their very own a little nearer to home. |
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|website=Solfest |accessdate=6 August 2019}}</ref> However, organisers cited increased attendance at the 2019 festival in announcing that Solfest is to return in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solfest will return in 2020 |url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Solfest-will-return-in-2020-/54419/ |website=Skiddle |accessdate=13 September 2019}}</ref> |
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Solfest was cancelled in 2020 due to the outbreak of the [[Coronavirus disease 2019]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Longstanding festival forced to cancel 2020 show|url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18572006.longstanding-festival-forced-cancel-2020-show/#:~:text=Solfest%20was%20due%20to%20be,us%20to%20postpone%20Solfest%202020.}}</ref> |
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Plans were made and the August Bank Holiday weekend of 2004 saw the first festival. Playing host to just 4000 people, the festival ethos strived to appeal to everyone, without prejudice and was a resounding success. Planning for 2005 started almost straight afterwards. It now plays host to an annual crowd of 7,000 people. |
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In October 2020 it was announced that [[Arts Council England]] awarded Solfest £100,000 as part of the Culture Recovery Fund setup in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Solfest 2021: Festival celebrates Arts Council grant |
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Musically as well as creatively, the festival has been likened to a smaller version of Glastonbury with a varied mix of music to suit everyone. It has 3 large stages (Main stage, Drystone Stage & Bar Stage) as well as a dance tent. The festival also puts major emphasis on caring for the patrons by providing dedicated welfare areas and childrens play areas. |
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|url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18812052.solfest-2021-festival-celebrates-arts-council-grant/}}</ref> |
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==Location== |
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There is a wide variance of other activitied provided by visiting artists ranging from crafts, woodworking e.t.c. through to entertainers and musicians. |
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The original site for Solfest was Tarnside Farm, Silloth, but the festival relocated to North Lakes Country Park, Silloth from 2019 onwards. |
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==Performers== |
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The festival is unique from any other festival as it is ran entirely by volunteers and does not have any corporate sponsorship. This allows the organisers to provide one of the (if not the) cheapest festivals in the UK with tickets costing just £59 per person. |
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Artists who have appeared at the Solfest Festival include: [[Badly Drawn Boy]], [[The Fratellis]], [[The Coral]], [[Buzzcocks]], [[Supergrass]], [[Oysterband]], [[Levellers (band)|The Levellers]], [[The Wonderstuff]], [[The Charlatans (UK band)]], [[James (band)]], [[Róisín Murphy]], [[Bluehorses]], [[Ian Dury and the Blockheads|Blockheads]], [[The Bad Shepherds]], Pikey Beatz, [[Misty's Big Adventure]], [[Kate Rusby]], [[The Orb]], [[System 7 (band)|System 7]], [[Easy Star All Stars]], [[The Undertones]], [[The Proclaimers]], [[The Beat (British band)|The Beat]], [[The Jam#From the Jam (2007–present)|From The Jam]], [[Seth Lakeman]], [[Show of Hands]], [[Ozric Tentacles]], [[3 Daft Monkeys]], [[Bex Marshall]], [[Penny Broadhurst]], Katus, Silverwheel, [[Eat Static]], [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]], [[Evil Nine]], [[Alabama 3]], [[New Young Pony Club]], [[The Magic Numbers]], [[Alejandro Toledo (musician)|Alejandro Toledo]], [[Utah Saints]], and escapology expert [[David Straitjacket]]. |
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==Awards== |
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'''Artists that played this year include''' Badly Drawn Boy, The Levellers, Easy Star All Star, The Undertones, The Beat, Show of Hands, Ozric Tentacles, 3 Daft Monkeys, Bex Marshall, Katus, Silverwheel, Eat Static and Evil Nine. |
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Solfest won the "Best Family Festival Award" at the 2007 National Festival Awards.<ref>[http://www.festivalawards.com Festival Awards Website] festivalawards.com</ref> |
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==Notes== |
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Solfest won the prestigious "Best Family Festival Award" at this years national festival awards. |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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[[Category:Music festivals in Cumbria]] |
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==External links== |
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[[Category:Annual events in the United Kingdom]] |
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*[http://www.solwayfestival.co.uk/ The Solway Festival Offical Site] |
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[[Category:Holme St Cuthbert]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:36, 29 March 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2017) |
54°48′46″N 3°22′22″W / 54.81278°N 3.37278°W
| Solfest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Rock music, alternative rock, northern soul, electronic dance music, indie rock, world music, punk rock, reggae, folk music |
| Dates | August Bank Holiday weekend |
| Location(s) | Tarns, Cumbria |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Founders | The Solfest Committee |
| Website | http://www.solfest.co.uk |
Solfest is a music and arts festival on the Solway Coast in the North West of England. It is held annually at North Lakes Country Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend.[1] It has grown from a 1,800 capacity event in 2004 to a 10,000 capacity festival. Originally, the 2019 edition of Solfest was going be the last,[2] but due to new directors taking control of the festival and the turnout of the 2019 event being much higher than anticipated, Solfest will return in 2020.[3]
Organisation
[edit]The Solfest organisation was initially formed in September 2003 when a team of West Cumbrian festival-goers got together and made initial plans to create a festival of their own a little nearer to home. They were quickly joined by other interested parties and Solfest was run by a structured committee of sixteen permanent members until 2010 when the management structure changed. Solfest is now run by a smaller management team.
While Solway Festival Ltd is a registered company, the organisation operates as a social enterprise whereby all surplus income is reinvested into the organisation. Solfest is constituted in such a way that it does not allow any members of the Solfest Committee to make any financial gain from the festival.
History
[edit]The Solfest festival is operated by Solfest Ltd, a registered company. It is run as a constituted social enterprise by unpaid volunteers, and does not have any corporate sponsorship. The first festival took place over the weekend of 3–5 September 2004 on a 26-acre (110,000 m2) site at Tarnside Farm (approximately halfway between the towns of Aspatria and Silloth). About 1,800 people attended the festival in its first year. It currently hosts an annual crowd of up to 10,000 people.
The festival provides a variety of music. It has three large stages (Main stage, Drystone Stage & Bar Stage) as well as a dance tent. The festival also has dedicated welfare areas and children's play areas. Other activities are provided by visiting artists, which range from crafts and woodworking to entertainers and musicians.
Solfest was cancelled in 2014,[4] but returned in 2015. In 2018, organisers initially announced that the 2019 festival would be the last edition of Solfest. This was attributed to falling attendance numbers, especially in 2018, and growing debts.[5] However, organisers cited increased attendance at the 2019 festival in announcing that Solfest is to return in 2020.[6]
Solfest was cancelled in 2020 due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019.[7]
In October 2020 it was announced that Arts Council England awarded Solfest £100,000 as part of the Culture Recovery Fund setup in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.[8]
Location
[edit]The original site for Solfest was Tarnside Farm, Silloth, but the festival relocated to North Lakes Country Park, Silloth from 2019 onwards.
Performers
[edit]Artists who have appeared at the Solfest Festival include: Badly Drawn Boy, The Fratellis, The Coral, Buzzcocks, Supergrass, Oysterband, The Levellers, The Wonderstuff, The Charlatans (UK band), James (band), Róisín Murphy, Bluehorses, Blockheads, The Bad Shepherds, Pikey Beatz, Misty's Big Adventure, Kate Rusby, The Orb, System 7, Easy Star All Stars, The Undertones, The Proclaimers, The Beat, From The Jam, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands, Ozric Tentacles, 3 Daft Monkeys, Bex Marshall, Penny Broadhurst, Katus, Silverwheel, Eat Static, The Damned, Evil Nine, Alabama 3, New Young Pony Club, The Magic Numbers, Alejandro Toledo, Utah Saints, and escapology expert David Straitjacket.
Awards
[edit]Solfest won the "Best Family Festival Award" at the 2007 National Festival Awards.[9]
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Solfest is a great little place for a bank holiday weekend". eFestivals. Review, 3rd Sep 2010.
- ^ "Solfest 2019 - The Final Solfest". Solfest. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Solfest will return in 2020". Skiddle. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ "Virtual Festivals: Cumbria's Whitehaven and Solfest Festivals cancelled in 2014". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Solfest 2019 - The Final Solfest". Solfest. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Solfest will return in 2020". Skiddle. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ "Longstanding festival forced to cancel 2020 show".
- ^ "Solfest 2021: Festival celebrates Arts Council grant".
- ^ Festival Awards Website festivalawards.com