A treasure trove of writers, poets and musicians have now been confirmed for the second stage at Priory Park Festival Chichester. In addition to the artists performing on the main stage over July 8, 9 and 10th July 2016, a host of star names have been confirmed for the Guildhall Stage. This second stage is situated in the historic medieval Guildhall in the centre of the Park.
Dame Esther Rantzen, Glyn Johns, Glen Povey, Tom Fort, Barry Miles and Simon Fanshawe are joined by Bubsie and the Beat Brothers, The Sussex Alphabet and Chichester Music Academy.
On the poetry side, Ted Hughes Poetry Award winner Maggie Sawkins will be joined by Barry Smith (the BBC Proms Poetry Award runner-up) and a host of other celebrated published poets will also read, many from the Sussex area.
The line-up is as follows:
SATURDAY JULY 9
THE CHICHESTER MUSIC ACADEMY SHOWCASE (11.30, £3)
Young singer-songwriters
THE SUSSEX ALPHABET (12.30, £5)
This is a unique collaboration between the South Downs Authority, young people from schools throughout Sussex and experienced writers such as Dr June Goodfield. Hear Dr June, Amanda Elmes from the South Downs Park and young readers from Sussex talk about an updated and revised version of Eleanor Farjeon’s original collection of verse.Poetry readings, young people's choices and fun stories from Dr June.
TOM FORT (13.30, £5)
Author of Channel Shore: From the White Cliffs to Land's End.
Writer and broadcaster Tom Fort is an expert on life's important things like the A303, lawnmowers and the coastline. Funny, clever and fun to listen to, Tom will feature extracts from his books along with anecdotes from his unique England.
SIMON FANSHAWE (14.30, £5)
Broadcaster, comedian, activist, and thoughtful provocateur, Simon showers wit wherever he goes. He speaks on the subject of diversity and equality.
THE CHICHESTER MUSIC ACADEMY INDIE SHOWCASE (15.30, £3)
Station 47 and The Lazzeretts
DAME ESTHER RANTZEN TALKS ABOUT 30 YEARS OF CHILDLINE and explains the need for the Sussex Snowdrop (16.30, £10)
Esther is a champion of the underdog. She has fought for a number of causes over the years, most notably on behalf of children everywhere who felt they had nowhere to turn, and she came up with Childline. Additionally she has formed a new charity for older citizens: Silverline.
Snowdrop also helps children and families. Esther talks to a local expert about how they work and why this is such a great cause. (All proceeds to go to Sussex Snowdrop Trust.)
GLYN JOHNS - SOUND MAN (17.30, £5)
Glyn is undisputedly one of the greatest recording engineers and producers in rock's illustrious history. The Stones, The Who, The Eagles, the Faces, Led Zeppelin, Steve Miller and even the Beatles all lauded this man, a totally unique, sensitive, and talented practitioner. Glyn truly changed the industry and has had more hits than one can count. He delivers classic rock anecdotes from the inside and a fascinating glimpse into the creation of some of the best-known songs of the age.
POETRY (18.30, £4)
A collection of readings from some of the area's greatest wordsmiths. The first of a double header from some of the leading exponents of the art.
Naomi Foyle, poet and eco-novelist (Astra), will read from The World Cup and other poems. Indigo Dreams Poets: Geoffrey Winch (Alchemy of Vision), Camilla Lambert (Grapes in the Crater), Mandy Pannett (Bee Purple and Frost Hollow) and Diana Mitchener (Corncockle).
SUNDAY JULY 10
THE CHICHESTER MUSIC ACADEMY SHOWCASE (13.30, £3)
Young singer-songwriters
GLENN POVEY - PINK FLOYD and ME (14.30, £5)
Probably the best known and certainly the most widely read authority on Pink Floyd in the world. Author of the massive Pink Floyd story, Glenn's knowledge of the band is encyclopaedic. From their early Cambridge roots, through the Syd psychedelic days, via the Roger dominated middle period to the comparative calm of Gilmour's reign, this is a band who have been through the changes yet have created some of the greatest work of their genre. Glen talks from the Dark Side to the Wall and beyond.
THE CHICHESTER MUSIC ACADEMY SHOWCASE (15.30, £5)
The future soul – Attatt.
BARRY MILES (16.30, £5)
Barry reads extracts from his essential masterwork ‘The 60's’. If you can remember it you weren’t really there - or you were Barry. He has a rapier sharp memory of the salient events of the decade, and he was either organising them or watching them first hand. He founded Indica with Paul McCartney, ran the Games for May and was at the birth of psychedelia working alongside the likes of Allan Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and others.
GUILDHALL POETRY (17.30, £4)
The second session with the leading Sussex exponents - a truly stellar line up.
Maggie Sawkins, Ted Hughes Poetry Award winner, will read new work accompanied by live music. Martin Myers (Some Circular Walks in Sussex), Barry Smith (BBC Proms Poetry Award runner-up) and John Davies (Shedman) read new work.
BUBSIE AND THE BEAT BROTHERS (18.30, £10)
The eclectic weekend welcomes Bubsie and her Beat Brothers with their unique take on another classic album. After revisiting Joni's Blue album it's the turn of the Mac to get the Bubsie treatment when she plays Fleetwood Mac's million seller Rumours. It's Rumours live but not as you know it.
There is seating for c.100 people in the Guildhall and admission prices have been kept as low as possible to allow visitors to try an eclectic mix of events. For those who hold weekend passes or VIP tickets entry is free but on a first in line queue basis. There is a cash only ticket policy on the door.
Artists appearing on the main stage over the weekend include Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Feeling, Seth Lakeman, Zoe Rahman, Courtney Pine, The Manfreds with Paul Jones, Martin Simpson, The Monochrome Set, Ryan Burnett, the Hounds Of Love featuring Lisa Abbott, Heath, Lunir, and the Charlotte Glasson Band with Chris Spedding.
Various ticket prices apply and all are available on line at www.chichesterlive.co.ukor in person from the Festival Box Office Cloisters Shop, Cathedral Cloisters, Chichester, PO18 1PX (open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm). 01243 813595.
