Festival coup
The organisers of Newark Festival 2013 have secured something of a coup by signing Madness as the Saturday night headline act. The band, reincarnated as national treasures since their late 70s/early 80s heyday, have a massive national fanbase.
Their show at Riverside Park, Newark, on Saturday, June 15 will be one of only nine outdoor performances this year.
Half the 8,000 tickets have been available online for a week, while the other half go on sale, in person only, at Newark Town Hall tomorrow to ensure local people have plenty of opportunity to enjoy what should be one of the biggest music events the town has ever seen.
Such a high profile headline act could put Newark firmly on the festival map, and bring in some first-time visitors who will be impressed enough to return.
The knock-on effect of the whole festival weekend, June 14-16, will be a welcome boost to the local economy with a busy town paying dividends for shops and businesses.
Plenty of free entertainment has been laid on, including a food and wine market, and a brass band concert and fireworks display.
Newark Carnival on the Sunday will also add to the fun.
The organisers, Newark Town Council and Liz Hobbs Group, are urging local people to support it, and help secure the festival’s long-term future.
So, forget the cold, snow and ice for a moment, and make a date in the diary for what will be a wonderful summer weekend of entertainment right in the heart of town.