Click below to listen to the show again:
[mixcloud height=120 width=620]https://www.mixcloud.com/phoenixfm/brentwood-festival-special-2014/[/mixcloud]
This year’s festival was the biggest and best ever.
Phoenix FM are always delighted to be involved with the Brentwood Festival. We’ve watched it evolve over the years from the garden of the White Horse in Coxtie Green Road to a massive weekend event at the Brentwood Centre showgrounds.
The overall formula remainder the same – the Main Stage was still there as was the marquee stage, which also featured the beer festival part of the weekend, with over 100 real ales (and a couple of lagers and various other drinks!) on tap, arranged by the Brentwood Brewing Company. There were a few changes this year, with a VIP area and also a vast improvement in the eating provisions, with a way-above-average selection for this kind of event – including excellent vegetarian choices. There was also a third stage for acoustic acts tucked behind the fairground for those who liked their music a little laid back.
Business on the Main Stage was brisk, with about 2,000 people braving thunder and lighting to watch Alexander O’Neal headline the Friday evening, and a couple of thousand more watching the Dualers, Missing Andy and Simon and Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene on the Saturday. But the star attraction for many came on Sunday evening, when reggae legends UB40 headlined to a record crowd – helping the festival notch up record numbers of visitors with over 12,000 people attending the weekend.
Phoenix FM DJ Tony Smith took over compering duties once again to announce the acts on the Main Stage while the team of Laurie Edmonds, Chris Andrews (who had lost his voice!), Chris Chitticks and Graham Okey worked hard behind the scenes once again to make it all run smoothly.
Of course it’s all for good causes too; Festival Director, Jason Jopson, has donated over £120,000 to various national and local charities. This year’s event support two Brentwood-based charities, Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and Hopefield Animal Sanctuary.
You can hear the interview with UB40 again here and also read our interviews with Skillshare and Paul Cook.
Welcome Pariah
Welcome Pariah
Welcome Pariah
Welcome Pariah
Welcome Pariah
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
UB40
Paul Cook and Jim Green
Paul Cook and Jim Green
Kate Thomas with Mel and Vic
Kate Thomas
Kate Thomas
Kate Thomas
Kate Thomas
Josh Kemp
Josh Kemp
Josh Kemp
Voss Malone
Voss Malone
UB40 set list
UB40
Tony
The Victories
Brad with Skillshare
Skillshare
Simon from Ocean Colour Scene
Simon and Oscar from OCS with Tony
Crowd
Richard Townend
Popettes
One Step Behind
Michelle Ward
Main Stage
Lydia Lucy with Tony
Lydia Lucy
Looking for Liam
Looking for Liam
The field
Tony with James Buckley
Hopefield
The field
Emma Jane
Edd Coates
Crowd at Dani Clay
Dani Clay with Tony
Claire Wyatt
Brad with Skillshare
Tony with Braatz
Tony with Astro from UB40
Brad with Skillshare
Brad interviewing Emma Jane
