Live it up at Basingstoke Live this summer

If you love going to the Reading, Isle of Wight festivals or Bestival, then don’t forget to add another date to your calendar this summer. On the 11 and 12 July, there’s an up and coming festival happening right in the heart of north Hampshire for anyone looking for a fun packed weekend of music, art and dance.

Basingstoke Live is back for its third year and it’s bigger and better than before. MOBO award winning Chipmunk will be headlining on Saturday 11July. He is currently riding high in the singles chart with his first hit Chip Diddy Chip and features with Ironik and Elton John on the popular Tiny Dancer track. 80s chart topping ska band, The Beat will headline on Sunday 12 July. The Beat has had scores of hits with tunes such as Mirror in the Bathroom and Can’t get used to loosing you.

The free festival, which is funded by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, will be held in War Memorial Park, Basingstoke over the weekend. It is organised by the Basingstoke Live Forum; a group of local music and arts promoters who only came together two years ago to work alongside the council; so the event offers a chance to sample fantastic music from both talented local artists as well as more well know national and international acts.

New for 2009 is the Unplgd Stage which means the festival now has four stages jam packed with over 100 music and dance acts including:

Main Stage Funk, rock to pop… something for everyone
100% Tent For your 100% guitar driven bands
Sunrise Stage Saturday is for MCs and DJs
On Sunday get a vibe on with reggae, DJs, funk, jazz and soulful acoustic
NEW: Unplgd! Stage Chill out with acoustic music


If you can’t wait for the main event, there will be an exciting fringe programme from 23 June to 12 July 2009 featuring performances in venues throughout the borough. From DRUM n bRASS percussion, Hip hop Dance workshops and Frisky Friday Fringe Special at Planet Ice, Basingstoke to name but a few. This is run by the community, for the community, and is well worth getting involved in. Check out www.basingstokelive.co.uk for more details.

Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, and local music-lover Cllr Keith Chapman said: “Each year the event has gone from strength to strength and we are looking forward to holding the most successful and enjoyable Basingstoke Live yet. With such a mix of music, art and dance, played across the weekend from ska to hip hop and funk to pop they’ll be something to appeal to everyone’s taste.”

Be the first to hear about all the acts lined up for this great event and more news about the festival and fringe programme by logging on to www.basingstokelive.co.uk