Christmas Newsletter
Welcome to our Christmas news
Before we break for the festivities, we’re very excited to announce our first artists for next year’s festival, plus new activities for 2019. We are also launching an early bird day ticket, which along with our early bird weekend tickets will be on sale until New Year’s Eve. And if that’s not enough we’ve got a very special prize draw for everyone who has bought their tickets for Wychwood before the end of 2018.
First Acts For 2019
We are delighted to welcome Scouting for Girls to headline our Friday – with bags of energy, they are sure to have you dancing to their hits She’s So Lovely, It’s Not About You and I Wish I Was James Bond. Also on Friday we’ll be welcoming 80s chart toppers T’Pau with hits like Heart and Soul which reached a top 5 chart position both here and in the US. Plus our very own Thrill Collins - rarely does a band become a festival institution, but Thrill Collins have certainly done that at Wychwood. We’re proud to call them our house band!
Acts confirmed so far for Saturday include Derek Tinkleberry, Donald Cornfoot and Edmund Sidebottam, otherwise known as Folk On.
We’re launching a new dance stage, and are pleased to welcome to DJ for us, 6 times world snooker champion, Steve Davis with Kavus Torabi. In recent years Steve’s devoted his time to indulging in his musical hobby, presenting a weekly Radio show The Interesting Alternative Show on PhoenixFM with co-presenter Kavus Torabi. Their radio show champions new, experimental, avant-garde, far out, underground, electronic, pop, folk, psych, rock and classical music. For their live DJ set expect any and all of the above!
Our musical announcements on Sunday include back by popular demand and with full band, Toyah – drawing on her amazing 30 year plus career with has included 13 Top 40 singles and 20 albums. Also on Sunday we will be welcoming Tankus the Henge – funk and rock combined with an eclectic mix of influences, ranging from Tom Waits and Blur to Queens of the Stone Age. Their shows are described as hair-raising and their songs ‘a virtual carnival of sound’, so come and see! Also joining us on Sunday will be John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett - What to expect? Well, be ready for anything from bare-chested theremin playing to wah wah wheelie bin as these two master entertainers give an amazing and irreverent performance – different every time.
Sunday in our new dance venue sees a set from Count Skylarkin - The Count will have you dancing to a mix of reggae, ska, rhythm & blues, soul and dancehall. Plus over the weekend DJ Bez, most famous for his freaky dancing with the band the Happy Mondays - and winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2005 - will be giving up plenty of fun and 90s nostalgia from old Indie classics through to Hacienda house.
Our First Workshops
Our workshops and activity programme for all ages is already shaping up nicely!
We can confirm the return of Nick Cope, former front man of The Candyskins in the 1990s. Nick Cope is the indie-surrealist kids' entertainer Robyn Hitchcock and Syd Barrett, foolishly distracted by cult status, never were.
Stewart Lee. Plus we’ve got ChiChi Fit - a brand new, musical theatre inspired, dance fitness programme designed to suit everyone. Feel like a Broadway star as you dance along to routines from famous musical shows. Sing along too! And Mr Dilly’s World Of Wonder - Part story, part comedy, part improv… but a whole World of Wonder awaits! Joy and laughter for all the family!
Or why not join Jo Porter’s Kitchen Dancing - Kitchen Dancing is fun, friendly and dance focussed! Perform vibrant dance routines in a disco setting to brilliant themed music from the past decades - soul, disco, rock, dance, pop, musicals and fun dance crazes. You’ll get to enjoy juggler Ben Cornish with his family show, full of technical skill and comic business. Plus our usual eclectic array of dance classes, yoga, meditation, singing, storytelling, silly sports, drumming, parachute games, arts and crafts, technology area, face painting, a family ceilidh and the parade!
Aardman Model Making Workshops
New to 2019, we’re excited about welcoming Aardman Productions – the makers of Wallace and Gromit, giving you the chance to learn how to make your very own classic character in their hands-on clay modelling workshops. Led by one of their expert model makers, you’ll also get the opportunity to ask questions about the tricks of the trade from the Aardman studio, and we’ll be screening some Aardman classics over the weekend.
New Early Bird Day and Weekend Tickets
For the first time ever, for 2019 we are offering an early bird rate on day ticket entry to Wychwood, and these along with our early bird weekend tickets will be on sale until New Year’s Eve - this means an adult weekend ticket is just £125 and an adult day ticket to any day is just £42 during this offer. Under 5s as always remain free.
These special offer tickets will only be on sale for the next couple of weeks, so grab yours quickly if you still need your tickets for 2019.
Special Prize Draw for All Early Bird ticket purchasers
We are running a special prize draw this year for everyone who has already, or who will have bought their tickets before the end of New Year’s Eve — this includes those of you on our Ticket For Life scheme, bought at the festival this year.
We will make the draw in the first week of 2019, and prizes up for grabs include Prizes from The Wychwood Brewery — our excellent ale partner — tours of the brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire, cases of ale and Hobgoblin Mini Kegs. Prizes from our new partner for 2019, Full Circle, include Eco-Friendly Hygiene Packs. Full Circle have created waterless eco-friendly hygiene packs for you to enjoy whether at a festival, camping or glamping!
Many more announcements to come in the New Year.
May we take this opportunity to thank you for all your support of your Wychwood Festival, and wish you the best seasonal greetings and a happy, peaceful and fun 2019!