FINAL preparations are underway for Cirencester's much-anticipated free-to-enter music and arts festival, taking place over the August Back Holiday weekend in the Abbey Grounds.
The Phoenix Festival is now in its sixth year and promises a weekend with a packed programme of entertainment.
As well as four performance areas, there will be a creative zone, a fun fair, traders stalls and more.
The alternating Cozy Powell and Vaults stages will offer something for everyone with a rock, pop, soul, swing, country, folk, dub, reggae, indie, jazz, blues, funk and choral on the programme.
Volunteer event manager, Glen Moreman said: “We are very excited about this year’s festival. The diversity of artists across all four performance areas is stunning and we have a fabulous new ‘creative zone’ too that will offer a variety of activities for the youngsters.”
On the Cozy Powell Stage, the festival welcomes back Missin’ Rosie, with their Celtic-inspired folk and newcomers Erica, a dynamic three-piece progressive indie band.
On Saturday, special guests ARRIVAL, ABBA tribute act, promise to bring out the dancing queen in the audience with their winning formula of hits, harmonies and authentic costumes.
Topping the bill on The Vaults stage on Saturday are DJ NJ, who will be bringing party central into the Abbey Grounds and on Sunday, festival fans can groove to the huge action packed 14-piece Soul Destroyers.
The hugely popular Let’s Play Music Stage have scheduled some 50 acts (10 more than last year) of which 68 percent are under 16 years and some will be performing for their first time.
They include a diversity of solo artists and bands with some very eye catching names, such as Veg Zeppelin and The Herbal Tea Co.
The Festival will end on a high on Sunday, when international touring group Flash - A Tribute to Queen, prove that "they are the champions".
Arena performances this year will include martial arts with Cotswold Aikido and theatrical comedy by the Cirencester Theatre Company. As well as festival regulars Cirencester Creative Dance Academy and the return of the Tug of War hosted by Fitness Space.
The Bandstand area will become the Creative Zone with a Drum Den of workshops hosted by local drum teacher Tim Downes-Hall; the creation of a giant Phoenix Poppy mosaic and the Phoenix Wishes Tree with local mosaic artist Jo Moreman; Circus Skills with Claire’s Circus; and introduces BEAM Gymnastics, a not for profit disability gymnastics club (not performing this year but on hand to chat about what they do).
The Festival will also feature the giant Phoenix Letters, made by Men’s Shed and decorated by local schools and community groups, a Fun Fair, festival traders, charity and community information stalls, and festival food and drink.
Glen added: “We are so very grateful to all our awesome funders, supporters and volunteers. Every year we have to raise £50,000 to stage this event. It’s a huge amount of work but very worthwhile. We hope everyone has a great time and will help us to keep the Phoenix, free, fun and local for generations to come.”
The Phoenix Festival is on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26.
For more on the Festival, how to get involved and offer support contact info@phoenix–festival.co.uk or go to phoenix-festival.co.uk
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