Stonedeaf 2018 : Ready to rock at Newark Showground
A festival for fans of rock music is coming to Newark Showground later this year.
Stonedeaf 2018 will showcase some of the biggest names from the world of rock for a one-day event on Saturday, August 25.
New Jersey heavy metal band Skid Row, who topped the American album charts in 1991, are the main headline act.
Other confirmed performers are The Quireboys, Graham Bonnet And His Band, Anvil, Hand Of Dimes and Chrome Molly.
Mr Steve Hughes, organiser and event founder, used to live in Newark and said the concept came from a demand for a shorter festival experience.
“The inspiration came from a Facebook group filled with rock music lovers who missed the old-fashioned one-day festival,” he said.
“It is the kind of event where you can bring your car, enjoy the music and still be okay for Monday. That type of event doesn’t exist much any more.
“I suggested we should try and organise that kind of festival and the response was overwhelming.”
Mr Hughes said Newark was a great central location with good links to the A1 and the East Coast Mainline.
'A bit of escapism'
The organising committee is made up of a group of volunteers, who have each taken on key roles to get the event up and running.
Mr Hughes said it would be a perfect opportunity for people to enjoy an old-school style festival.
“We are hoping people enjoy a bit of escapism with this festival. We have some big names coming to join us,” he said.
“The main people we are expecting to want to come are people in their 30s and 40s, but it would be great to get some new fans too,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be a success and we will be able to hold the festival every year.”
Camping will be available at the showground from 3pm on August 24 until noon on August 26.
For more information visit the Stonedeaf Festival website.
- The event is planned on the same day as Newark-based promoter LHG Live’s concert at Riverside Park, involving Simple Minds, The Pretenders and KT Tunstall, as part of the Grandslam 2018 tour.
