Basfest rocks Gloucester Park (From Echo)
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Basfest rocks Gloucester Park
8:03am Monday 6th July 2009 in
SCORCHING temperatures, an appearance by Doctor Who and plenty of great music, brought the crowds flocking to this year’s Basfest.
The weekend’s feast of free music and entertainment, in Gloucester Park, Basildon drew an estimated 40,000 revellers over the two days.
One of the biggest attractions was a scaled-down version of Doctor Who’s Tardis, a Cyberman costume and a visit by one of the former Doctors, Colin Baker, who starred in the BBC sci-fi series between 1984 and 1986.
Festival-goers met and chatted with the actor and looked at the iconic Tardis, part of a special exhibition celebrating Basildon’s 60th birthday.
Basfest 2009’s main stage featured a huge range of live music, including former Stranglers singer Hugh Cornwell and soul stars Jimmy James and the Vagabonds.
Other performers included March of the Mods, Funk Affair, Luminar, Queen tribute, the Bohemians and the Elliott Henshaw Band.
There were activities for the youngsters, too, with the puppet shows certainly going down well with two-year-old Genevieve Dent, her mum, Corrina Dent and grandmother, Sandra Dent.
Corrina, of Braybrook, Basildon, said: “We’re having a really good day, but it’s far too hot. The entertainment is great, especially the puppets. She loved it and even got to play with them afterwards.”
Sandra, of Mynchens, Basildon, said: “It’s a really good atmosphere. I’ve been before and come back for the entertainment.”
In the events arena displays drew crowds of about 400 to watch the Essex dog display team, a display by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service and performances by local dance school pupils.
On the community stage, the weather was matched by the sunny sounds of a steel band. Other attractions included a fashion show, and local singers.
For the teenagers, the Boom Room made a return, with DJs and MCs competing for a chance to play a live set at Liquid nightclub, on the Festival Leisure Park in Basildon.
Site manager Graham Sandford said: “We’ve got really big crowds. Last year, we had 40,000 over the weekend and I think we’re set to equal or beat that this year.
“It’s been very successful, with great weather and a great programme of events.”
Comments(8)
springthing
says...
12:47pm Mon 6 Jul 09
But the most shocking of all was the behaviour & language coming from the Royal British leigon stand on Sunday, they were drunk & mouthing off most of the day, a fight broke out & the police attending the stand at least once, my grandfather was a member before he died & he would have been disgusted by them, god knows what the public thought of them.
Tony Archer
says...
11:12pm Mon 6 Jul 09
The sound on the stages was awful. There were an element of violence throughout both days and there was not much diversity in the programming.
Who plans such rubbish? Terrible tribute bands and dog shows. Is it organised by the same people who run the Towngate I wonder? Another fiasco.
The only decent thing was Hugh Cornwell on Saturday.
Southend does this kind of thing with much more style.
It was useless and once again I am ashamed that I live in this town that does not entertain or cater for it's own community.
Pathetic all round.
Chairman Meow
says...
12:06pm Tue 7 Jul 09
I went to Basfest on Sunday for the first time and had low expectations. Organisation seemed pretty good, with adequate toilets and a cheap bar with speedy service.
Clearly it's a family-orientated entertainment event rather than a music festival so you're going to get a rather bland MOR line-up.
I spent most of my time at the Boom Room which had thrash/metal/indie/a
lternative rock which was good fun, albeit with rather too many cover versions for my liking.
More diversity would be welcome in the future, with perhaps separate folk/jazz/acoustic/a
lternative stages for those in search of something more musically demanding.
kathy
says...
12:59pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Tony Archer
says...
4:58pm Tue 7 Jul 09
I am not denying the good intentions of the event, just the execution.
If the weather had been poor, would their have been any act on the stages that wold have drawn an audience. I don't think so.
Of course it is a family day which it should be and it is free.
But Basildon deserves better. There were a lot of people there, which was great. The town and it showpiece 60th birthday event should have pulled out the big guns instead of acts such as the dreadful Queen tribute who cost next to nothing and spend most of their time playing in pubs.
Basildon has a great musical heritige. Depeche Mode, Alison Moyet and Erasure. Not to mention the very underated Phil Burdett.
Was any contact ever made withe them to perhaps perform and turn the event into something truly special.
I doubt if the organisers would not even know where to start.
I'm please that the event happens. But it could be wonderful instead of wishy-washy.
Thanks,
Tony
tone1976
says...
10:54pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Tony Archer wrote:I totally agree that Basildon deserves better. Its the 60th year and whilst I havent lived in basildon all my life. well I moved here as a 16 year old in 1993 I felt that as far as the music goes what a load of cr4p it was this year. I would have thought for the 60th year Basildon would have really pushed the boat out. OK So depeche mode and Alison Moyet would probably have been too expensive but why not have booked them instead of Katherine Jenkins on the 25th July.
Hi Kathy I am not denying the good intentions of the event, just the execution. If the weather had been poor, would their have been any act on the stages that wold have drawn an audience. I don't think so. Of course it is a family day which it should be and it is free. But Basildon deserves better. There were a lot of people there, which was great. The town and it showpiece 60th birthday event should have pulled out the big guns instead of acts such as the dreadful Queen tribute who cost next to nothing and spend most of their time playing in pubs. Basildon has a great musical heritige. Depeche Mode, Alison Moyet and Erasure. Not to mention the very underated Phil Burdett. Was any contact ever made withe them to perhaps perform and turn the event into something truly special. I doubt if the organisers would not even know where to start. I'm please that the event happens. But it could be wonderful instead of wishy-washy. Thanks, Tony
The only decent band on the saturday was March of the mods.
There are so many bands, tribute acts who could have made a much better line up. like Complete Madness, Chas & Dave, new upcoming band Buster Shuffle, (www.myspace.com/bus
tershuffle) The Manfreds.
I had a woman come round doing a survey and i told her what i thought of the entertainment. She informed me that they nearly got Diversity but Simon Cowell he put the block on it.
Please Basildon council Make it a better line up next year.
Chairman Meow
says...
11:50pm Tue 7 Jul 09
But what's needed in Basildon is more music friendly venues for bands playing their own material, not 'tribute' band rubbish and cover versions.
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Colourful – one of the dance groups goes through its paces
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Chilled out – crowds enjoy the music and the balmy summer atmosphere in front of the main stage
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Energetic – rock band Cryptic Anger on the Boom Room stage
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Familiar – it was Pitsea woman Maggie Clowes’s 13th Basfest in a row. She was there raising money for her charity, Maggie’s Pet Rescue
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trell says...
12:17pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Special mention to the police. I saw a fight break out during a performance with my young niece, and the officer handled the situation perfectly.