Blam: Let's start with the festival's past - the first

Sussex Solstice was in Sussex and on the Solstice hence it's name, am I right?
Simon: This is the first SS but we did help promote another
smaller festival called Bur-Fest last year (in Burwash) that
was a musical and creative success. The day was a mixture
of local covers and professional originals acts that appealed
to families and music fans alike. This was the first event we
have been involved in and the plan was to create something
larger but with the same format this year. The Forum were
due to come and run our beer tent and acoustic stage but
unfortunately Sussex Solstice was stopped by a local resident
who we simply didn't have the resources to fight against.
The Forum very kindly stepped in though and offered us the
chance to resurrect the festival.
Blam: Proof Blam! isn't always right then but lovely
that you have now moved to The Forum, and re-drawing
the old county boundaries (which give us "The Sussex
Arms" pub in The Pantiles) do you know the history of
the Kent/Sussex border?
Simon: As long time Kent/Sussex border residents (I'm from
Burwash and Mark from Heathfield) I've always seen T Wells
as my local town, in fact I used to live just over the road from
The Forum in the late 1990's. Until the boundary changes
were made some years ago The Forum was in fact in the
historical county of Sussex as the Boundary stone is laid
at the Church of King Charles the Martyr. The whole Kent/
Sussex rivalry thing is something of a running joke to those of
a certain age but I love both counties and having our festival
in T Wells is personally very special for me.
Blam: What are your backgrounds with the music
industry/scene?
Mark: My musical taste is varied from MASSIVE ATTACK and
Dub influenced trance music to BLACK SABBATH and a
swerve to PINK FLOYD and MARILLION. Simon has eclectic
taste too and this is reflected in our choices for the line-up.
While we are both rockers at heart, we have got experience
of festivals and both would like a relaxed and chilled out vibe
to pervade the day. Most importantly we want to promote
original artists and musical integrity and this is at the forefront
of what we are trying to achieve with Sussex Solstice and
Sanctuary Media.
Simon: We are both huge music fans and of an age (we are
in our 40's) where we grew up listening to some amazing
bands. In the late 70's I was turned onto music by the likes
of ADAM ANT, THE SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH and THE
STRANGLERS, I later became obsessed with THE CULT
and in the 90's it was the grunge and alternative rock scene.
Rock music has been omnipresent my whole life (I'm also in
a covers band myself) and it's this passion that sees us both
at The Forum putting Sussex Solstice on.
Blam: The line-up for Sussex Solstice isn't all rock
though, and looks like it will appeal to a wide audience
How did you pick the acts.... some are familiar (eg
SEAN DE BURCA) but some are less well known 'here'
(eg SOUTH OF SATURN) ?
Simon: We are aiming at a wide audience although primarily
we are focusing on a prog/blues and indie kind of vibe away
from standard classic rock, difficult to be specific these days
as classic rock is such a general term. PEARL HANDLED

MARK CAMPBELL
SIMON OAKLEY

REVOLVER are kind of our totem band, they sit perfectly with
what we are trying to achieve, its intelligent, powerful and
thought provoking music..Think THE DOORS crossed with
PINK FLOYD and LED ZEP.
We are both regulars at the legendary Six Bells at Chiddingly
which has bands every Friday and Saturday night, SOS
are one band we picked up on last year, they are all very
young and talented guys from the Eastbourne area who do
covers and originals. THE ENGLISH ROGUES are another
Six Bells regular but have been going for many years and
we wanted to cross the generation gap by adding them.
PAUL NEWSOME is a gold selling artist who is good friends
with NOEL GALLAGHER and ELIZABETH CANEY is from
Etchingham, she has been playing guitar on world tour with
CHARLI XCX, they are both friend of Marks (along with PHR).
In terms of high quality original musicians and covers bands
we think its a perfect mix.
Mark: PAUL NEWSOME has just come off tour supporting the
HIGH FLYING BIRDS and is going back on tour with them in
the autumn. Elizabeth should sell out the festival on her own,
you will be awestruck at her talent and STEVEN YOUNG is
right up there with the Islington set, friends with Kate Moss
and Meg Matthews. PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER, as Simon
says, are the epitome of our crossover tastes, covering hard
blues, prog and powerful dynamics all in one bandthey
have to be seen...
Blam: . and will you be making use of The Forum
garden space as well as inside?
Simon: Yes we will be using The Forum garden for an acoustic
stage, weather permitting !! We hope to add a few more acts
as well..
Blam: So, quality music, plus food and drink available,
it's quite a bargain for 15 you have a facebook page
http://tinyurl.com/ngtwtaj where people can ask you
questions directly and a link to tickets at http://tinyurl.
com/pm9xvdq - but is there anything else you'd like to
say?
Simon: Just to add this is hopefully just the start of our music
promotion lives and hope to put many more events on in
the future, we are also still looking for some talented local
acoustic acts (that includes Kent!!!) to add to the bill. All
interested artists should apply toinfo@sussexsolstice.co.uk