IT WAS all smiles and sun on the first day of this year’s Wickham Festival.
The annual festival has returned today, Thursday, August 1, and is running until Sunday, August 4.
Headliners this year include Suzi Quatro, Levellers, Curtis Stigers, Seth Lakeman and Ferocious Dog.
People have travelled from across the country to enjoy the festival.
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Matthew Clark and Iain Smith have come from Fife to see the musical acts.
Matthew told the Chronicle: “This is my fourth time here.
“It has a big variety of acts. There is a lot of folk music, but there is a lot of variety. It is great fun to turn up and see what we are going to get.
“I have brought t-shirts and records from bands I was introduced to at this festival, so I’m looking forward to seeing what is here this year.”
Iain said: “It is good to see acts that you remember from your youth, The Levellers for example. And it is great to see some of the acts who are returning to the festival too.”
Basildon resident Nicola Ray came along on the opening day of the festival to check it out.
She said: “I am volunteering this year, so I wanted to come along and see what it is all about.
“It is not something I am normally into, but I wanted to come along and see why so many people come.”
Wickham resident Paul Clement said that he and his family are regular attendees of the festival. He said: “We like how they welcome children here. There are a few activities for them to do.
“We are going to try to stay in the campervan as much as possible and see as much of the music as we can.”
Gemma Bogue, from the Homemade Brownie Company, said: “I’ve been told this is the first time we have done a music festival, we normally do farmers markets.
“I am interested to see how it affects sales!”
This year, the festival is taking place on a slightly different site, with Winchester City Council approving a transfer to a new field which organisers hope will help them beat the mud after the heavy downpours which took place last year.
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Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn said: “It’s the first time we’ve been on this site and it’s absolutely lovely. All of our audience is saying that the really like it.
“The sun’s been shining, we are aware that there are thunderstorms around us, but so far, touch wood, we have been very lucky. It is a really nice new site, tickets have sold well, and it looks like it’s going to be a great weekend.”
The festival will take place from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 4.
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