The Festival is now over and has been hailed as a HUGE success.
Planning has already begun for next year's festival so if you want to get involved please contact us, we need you!
Headline acts which appeared in 2008 included:
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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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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
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.
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.
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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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for a map of the Festival location.
The Gillingham Festival always needs volunteers so if you would like to help contact 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 Festival Committee are currently recruiting volunteers. It's fun, it's hard work, it's very rewarding, contact us now!