Leo Sayer is set to play the Wickham Festival – five years late!
The Shoreham-born chart-topper was due to headline the four-day event in 2020, only for it to be cancelled because of Covid.
With Sayer now living in Australia, it has been difficult for organisers to fit Wickham into his 2schedule but now, in the words of his biggest hit, The Show Must Go On.
Sayer will be starring at the picturesque venue on Saturday August 2 on the same bill as another Seventies icon Tom Robinson.
The bill also features Fisherman’s Friends and Talisk on Friday August 1 with Oysterband on the Sunday with Peatbog Faeries, Kate Rusby and Reg Meuross.
Organiser Peter Chegwyn said: “It has taken a few years to get him but we are delighted Leo Sayer will be playing Wickham at last.
“We were desperately disappointed when the 2020 festival was cancelled along with just about every other music event in the country.
“And I know Leo Sayer was very upset too. We had several conversations where we did everything we could to try and make it work but in the end it just wasn’t possible.
“We are very excited that he is finally going to play at what is almost a homecoming for him. We actually grew up a few hundred yards from each other so it will be great to welcome him here at last.”
Leo Sayer added: “I was genuinely very disappointed not to be able to play Wickham in 2020. It was a horrible time for so many people and we kept hoping the event would be able to go ahead and give everyone a much-needed lift.
“As it turned out all major events were cancelled which was so sad as this would have been a special one for me. So,I am thrilled to be able to sign up for this year’s event. We will make it a great night to make up for what we missed out on before.”
The pandemic badly hit the music festival industry with many long-standing events going under or forced to scale back. And Chegwyn is grateful to Wickham’s loyal fan base.
“Like everyone else, we were hit hard by the forced cancellation and it has been a struggle to keep going. But, as Leo Sayer says, The Show Must Go On. And it will.
“We are lucky to have a big core of people who come to enjoy our unique atmosphere year after year. We have fans travelling from America, Europe and even Australia and many regulars plan their summer around it.
“And as last year proved, the event is now better than ever thanks to our new site which is fully grassed – so no more mud!
“It was our first year there and it was a huge success. Even so, we are still looking to make it even better so will be improving the sound quality and facilities so hopefully fans will turn out in their numbers for what promises to be another superb event.
“We now have 28 acres of flat and well-drained grassland for our arena with much better pedestrian and vehicle access than ever before. Our new arena field is so much better in every way.
“The unique atmosphere will stay the same. We don’t add booking fees andall our Wickham favourites will remain with storytelling, dance displays, music workshops, a traditional crafts fayre; real ales festival and the usual wide range of attractions for children plus much more.”
Four-day tickets are currently on sale at £220 with Under 16’s admitted half price and Under 10’s paying just £10. Day tickets are also available starting at £60. A weekend camping pass starts at £40 and parking is free. See www.wickhamfestival.co.uk for more details.
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