Where: Town Gardens Bowl

When: Saturday 28 August, 12:00-22:00

The 'My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival’ will be held at Town Gardens Bowl on Saturday 28 August, from midday until 10pm and will raise money for The Prospect Hospice

The charity festival is being held in tribute to Dave Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar, who sadly died in early June at the Prospect Hospice after a hard-fought battle against cancer.

Prospect Hospice provides end of life care to those living in Swindon and north east Wiltshire and offers all of their services free of charge.

Sheryl Crouch, head of income at Prospect Hospice, told Swindon Link: “We’ve been so pleased to have been chosen as the local charity to benefit from this fantastic bank holiday music event in memory of the groups wonderful friend, I really can’t thank them enough.  I can see the passion in the team to raise vital funds for the hospice after we cared for Anna’s husband Dave at the end of his life.

The musical line up is headed by David’s former band The Boys From County Hell, an Irish Folk-Punk band in the vein of The Pogues, who toured the UK and internationally to huge acclaim and who are reuniting for the occasion to perform for the first time in more than a decade.

Joining them will be Dave’s last band, the legendary punk covers outfit The Chaos Brothers along with Gaz Brookfield & The Company of Thieves, with whom he toured the UK as sound engineer.

Also featuring are a host of acts who were all championed by David in one way or another during his time as a cornerstone of the local music scene and includes parody party covers act Kova Me Badd, ska-punk band Slagerij, blues-funk three-piece Hip Route and reggae act The Erin Bardwell Trio.

As well as the music there will be plenty of activities for all the family and food and drink from a variety of locally based vendors, including a licenced bar.

Ed Dyer, who is one of the Swindon Shuffle organisers, told Swindon Link: “All of us at The Shuffle owe a huge debt of gratitude to him in one way or another as he mentored, inspired and guided us, and gave all of us, past and present, the opportunity to bring music to the people of Swindon.

“We had been discussing a summer event with South Swindon Parish Council for a while, so it seemed fitting that we took this opportunity to recognise his passion for, and huge contribution to the event and the local music scene.”

The festival is now calling on local businesses to come forward to help fund the event so that as much money as possible can be raised for the charity as well as volunteers to help on the day. Businesses and volunteers can get in touch with the team via email – mdbtydfestival@gmail.com

Tickets are available online via seetickets.com or in person at Holmes Music and The Tuppenny in Swindon and Sound Knowledge in Marlborough.   

Tickets

Early Bird (18+) - £15

Adult Ticket (18+) - £20

Concession Ticket (10-17 years) - £12

Child Ticket (Under 10 years old) – Free

Family Ticket – two adults and two concessions - £50

To keep up to date with information about the festival visit www.mydadsbiggerthanyourdad.co.uk