Latest news with #CharltonPark
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Thousands party at Shindig festival's new venue
Thousands of music fans have been partying at a festival in its new country estate has moved from Somerset's Dillington Estate to Wiltshire's Charlton Park, where it will be held for three the music stages – which are hosting guests including Gilles Peterson, and Sean Kuti & Egypt 80 – there has been a huge procession of samba drummers, a graffiti battle and various art director Simon Clarke said the festival's new contract with Charlton Park, in Malmesbury, "allows us to do a lot more creative things". Mr Clarke said organisers had moulded the ten-year-old festival around its visitors."They bring kids, they like to dance and have a good time," he said, adding the staff aim to create "a bit of magical feel about the whole thing"."I love seeing people coming back," Mr Clarke said. "Some of the people we know really well now, they've come for ten years."Charlton Park has been the home of Womad festival for 17 years. But Woman is now moving to an as yet unannounced new home next year following a year off in 2025.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
What's on at the new-look Shindig Festival in Wiltshire?
With just two days to go until the return of the Shindig Festival, many people will be in the process of planning their journeys and event is making a comeback at Charlton Park in Wiltshire - the former home of Womad - after spending 10 years in Ilminster, Somerset. Co-founder Simon Clarke said the venue was "a new era for Shindig" after organisers had said 2024 would be the last event due to a "challenging economic climate".The gates open at 12:00 BST on 22 May for the four-day event. What's on at this year's festival? Shindig music programmer Stu Matson said the 2025 line up is a "global celebration of rhythm and culture where afrobeat meets electronic, reggae meets soul, funk meets industrial rap".Dubbed "a pint-sized version of Glastonbury", the festival is hosted in a collection of marquees and giant tipis. Live acts include Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Ibibio Sound Machine, TC & The Groove Family and former member of The Prodigy Leeroy taking to the stage include BBC Radio 6 DJ Gilles Peterson, Mr Scruff, Dan Shake and Danny Howells. Art installations will be on display including "giant welded artwork" and fire-breathing sculptures made by the Rockaway Park cultural centre and the Mutoid Waste healing field is offering hot tubs, saunas and massages and a pamper parlour. And Glastonbury's popular The Rabbit Hole area will also be at Shindig for the first time this year. Do I need to buy tickets? Tickets can be bought online via the festival's website either beforehand or over the course of the event, subject to adult tickets are priced at £210 to include camping and day tickets can be purchased for £75 with one night under canvas. Live-in vehicles are charged at £95 for the whole are available for children, and those under the age of four can attend for free. Local residents living within a 6km (3.7 mile) radius of Charlton Park can receive a discount. How to get there Charlton Park is located just off the A429 between Cirencester and Chippenham, close to Malmesbury. The site is 11km (7 miles) from Junction 17 of the M4, about 160km (100 miles) from are advised to use the postcode SN16 9LL and to follow the yellow AA signs for parking costs £40 for the whole two closest mainline railway stations are Swindon and Chippenham, and bus route 99 stops 500m (1640 ft) from the main entrance and can be picked up in Swindon or Chippenham. Last year Shindig's organisers said they would not be able to continue putting on the festival due to the "challenging economic landscape of the events industry".However, Mr Clarke said the new site would ensure the festival's ongoing viability."This renowned site allows us to introduce new stages, a broader live music line-up and fresh immersive experiences - the foundation for a solid future."Womad organisers announced in November 2024 that the world music event would be moving to a new home and taking a year off in 2025.
