The next Festival will be held from Saturday 5th July to Sunday 20th July 2008 inclusive.
The Gillingham Festival always needs volunteers so if you would like to help contacts us.
If you would like to volunteer, are a performer, represent a performer or have media connections please register so that you can have access to new facilities we are adding for volunteers, performers and media.
The main marquee events will be taking place between the 11th and 20th July.
The first weekend will involve popular sporting activities such as the 10km run, the 2km Fun Run and football tournaments for the younger age groups.
The results for the 2007 run can be found here.
During the Festival we hope to bring you all the usual variety of music, theatre, dance, exhibitions, sport, food and wine, antique valuations, open gardens, classic cars on the last day and all of the festival side events that we have enjoyed over recent years.
There will also be free admission and concerts during the day on 12th /13th and 19th / 20th July, plus all the usual children’s entertainments, food and licensed bar.
Headline acts already booked for 2008 include:
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Ben Waters FRIDAY 11TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
Ben and his big band are making a welcome return to the Festival after playing a storming last night set in 2007.
Ben Waters is widely acknowledged as one of the most exciting piano players in Europe today.
His live shows have been compared to Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix.
These guys are not just a band, they can turn any venue into a Kansas City barrelhouse!
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Elkie Brooks and her band THURSDAY 17TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
Elkie Brooks is one of the most successful and popular singers the UK has ever produced and is still proving to be one of the most powerful and versatile vocal talents of our generation with numerous hit singles, million selling albums and awards.
Performing some of her classic hits, blues, jazz and perhaps a song or two from her forthcoming album, an electric evening with Elkie is guaranteed to leave you begging for more.
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Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band SATURDAY 19TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
For the soul fans, Geno Washington's ever popular music originating from the 60’s and his worldwide fan base always attracts followers of all age groups.
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The Great Pretender and HRH band. TUESDAY 15TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
Steve Littlewood and his Queen Tribute from Nottingham is undoubtedly the best show in the land. Many may have already seen him as the headline act at the Poole Park Festival 2007 and will want to come and witness this experience again.
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The Rat Pack SUNDAY 20TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
This Bournemouth based 9 piece band plays a whole programme of music from the swing era right up to the present day.
To hear them is a must!
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The Rolling Clones FRIDAY 18TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
Without a doubt the most exciting tribute to the Rolling Stones 'Outstanding'.
The Daily Mail.
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Michael Portillo MONDAY 14TH JULY 7:30PM
With a first-class degree in history Michael Portillo was well placed to give an educated slant on history as he demonstrated in the BBC's "The Things We Forgot To Remember", "Great Britons" and the astounding "Science of killing".
In his presence you are aware of his acuity and sympathy with the lives of ordinary folk that surprises many. A talent quite wasted on politics.
What he will surprise us with this time we can only wait and see but we can guarantee an evening of wit and humour and life experiences in broadcasting and politics.
Laughter is never very far away!
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MIRACLE THEATRE WEDNESDAY 9TH JULY 7:30PM
Cornwall’s award-winning Miracle Theatre Company presents “Jason”
Love, death and seasickness in the Lap of the Gods
Adapted and directed by Bill Scott
Devised and performed by Jason Squibb, Jo Bowis, Ben Oldfield, and Sally Crooks
This new summer production will take you into the lands of Greek legend and romance as our hero battles against the odds. Nothing can stop Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece – not even a dodgy oracle. It takes more than a bad weather forecast, threats from dysfunctional gods or sirens with halitosis to put off the Argonauts. But when it comes to love, Jason is completely overwhelmed. He is no match for the sorceress Medea.
Miracle plunders the riches of Greek mythology – with tragic consequences!
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WHOLE LOTTA LED SATURDAY 12TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30PM
Given the thumbs-up by no less a guitar god than Jimmy Page himself, Whole Lotta led are THE Led Zeppelin tribute band.
For those times when you need something to get your blood moving, heart thumping and feet moving look no further than Whole Lotta Led!
These are no Stars in Their Eyes look-a-likes, but fully paid members of the rock fraternity who love their music raw, deep, and emotive.
Originally playing local clubs and pubs, the band soon progressed to the major rock venues touring all over the UK and Europe. The band perform on average 100 concerts each year to enthusiastic crowds ranging in age from six to sixty, and for most it is the first opportunity of seeing and hearing Led Zeppelin's music performed live.
The aim is to reproduce the classic Zep songs with the same enthusiasm, excitement and passion of the the original.
The set is changed very regularly, but there are three songs are included in every gig they play – Whole Lotta Love; Stairway to Heaven and Moby Dick, famous for John Bonham's drum solo.
The band are Nick Ferris (lead and acoustic guitar); Geoff Hunt (bass, mandolin, keyboard); Graham Twist (drums, backing vocals) and Lee Addison (vocals, harmonica).
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ACOUSTIC STRAWBS SUNDAY 13TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30
The founding fathers of British folk rock have been in existence for 30 years.
Starting out in folk clubs in London as the Strawberry Hill Boys, The Strawbs found chart success in the glam-rock era of the early 70s, with hits such as “Lay Down” and “Part of the Union”, which reached No. 2 in the charts.
Now playing mostly acoustic sets of classic numbers, The Stawbs are Dave Cousins on guitar, dulcimer and vocals, Dave Lambert on guitar & vocals, and guitarist Chas Cronk.
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THE BIG CHRIS BARBER BAND WEDNESDAY 16TH JULY MARQUEE 7:30
Inspired by the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band, Chris formed his first Barber New Orleans Band in 1949 at the age of nineteen. In 1953, along with Monty Sunshine and Lonnie Donegan, he joined forces with Ken Colyer.
This band became Chris Barber's Jazz Band in 1954 and has been one of Europe's most successful traditional jazz bands ever since.
Over the years, Chris Barber's Jazz Band evolved into the Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band, a rich eight-piece group, blending brass, reeds, and electric guitar into a unique and unmistakable mix of blues and jazz. And despite being 'on the slide' since 1949, having performed over 10,000 concerts and made thousands of recordings, the Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band keeps marching on, right into the 21st century.
At the end of 2001 Chris extended his band with three more musicians into The BIG Chris Barber Band, playing a wide selection of his favourite music: from his roots in New Orleans style in "Bourbon Street Parade"(still his signature tune) and "Chimes Blues" to the early music of Duke Ellington and Sidney Bechet, all the way to blues and the soulful blues of Miles Davis by way of Bob Crosby, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Chris Barber has influenced many of today's leading Jazz and Blues musicians, such as Mark Knopfler, Eric Burdon, John Mayall, The Stones, Eric Clapton and Van Morrison and has guested with many of them.
The Festival Committee are currently recruiting volunteers. It's fun, it's hard work, it's very rewarding, contact us now!