Voewood Festival tickets on sale now

North Norfolk’s unique boutique literature & music festival is back

‘Decadence has never been so civilized’ Friday 15 – Sunday 17 August 2014

Voewood Festival, perhaps the UK’s ultimate boutique arts festival, returns to north Norfolk in August with a mix of literary stars, music legends and a distinctive Rock n’ Roll vibe. Over three midsummer days and nights, from 15 to 17 August, the beautifully iconic Arts and Crafts styled Voewood House will overflow with writers, journalists, singers and musicians. These include New Order/Joy Division legend Peter Hook, DBC Pierre, Martin Parr, Midge Ure, Alison Moore and Los Pacaminos (with a line up that includes singer Paul Young alongside Jamie Moses, Drew Barfield, Melvyn Duffy, Mark Pinder, Matt Irving and Steve Greetham). Reduced price early bird tickets are available until 28 May.
 

Following a break in 2013 this will be the third Voewood Festival. The programme is not so much curated as concocted from the dreams of owner Simon Finch, a rare book dealer with a rock and roll heart. At Voewood genuine English eccentricity abounds, it simply couldn’t happen in any other location, the house works its magic on everyone that comes here and inspires new conversations and collaborations. It’s like an exclusive garden party where audience and artists rub shoulders with one another in intimate surroundings. The Festival is shaped by the house and its history as much as by the artists invited to take part. That, and the fact that tickets are sold in very strictly limited numbers, is what makes it special. 
 
The literary element of this year’s festival is packed with some extraordinary talents with plenty to say. It takes in environmental activist Paul Kingsnorth who will be reading from his new first novel ‘The Wake’ as well as the likes of Iain Sinclair, Louisa Young, Owen Sheers and Tim Lott. One of Britain’s finest poets Murray Lachlan Young will entertain audiences with his humorous and wry verses and artist, aesthete, museum owner and collector Viktor Wynd, recently relocated to Norfolk, will be reading from his forthcoming book Viktor Wynd’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Top 1960s model, former Mrs Mick Fleetwood (twice!), the inspiration for Donovan’s Jenifer Juniper and now psychologist Jenny Boyd will talk about her book ‘It’s not only Rock n’ Roll’. In the book iconic musicians such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell reveal the secrets of their creativity.

 
Voewood organiser Simon Finch said ‘I don’t go to many parties but I really wouldn’t miss this one!”
 
Chris Salewicz is a former NME scribe, a broadcaster, film maker, biographer of Bob Marley and Joe Strummer. He will be talking about his latest book the 27 Club, an analysis of seven influential musicians who died at the age of 27 including Brian Jones, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix.

Brilliant documentary photographer Martin Parr will be launching his book of photographs (with text by DBC Pierre) of previous Voewood events including images of some of the surprise guests who habitually turn up to soak in the atmosphere and are often happy to oblige with impromptu performances. 
 
Grammy Award winning bass guitarist Guy Pratt has served time with artists as diverse as Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Womack & Womack, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Page and Madonna. At Voewood he will present his witty one man show telling stories, anecdotes and just a bit of gossip from behind the scenes. 
 
The music programme is equally blessed with highlights.
 
There’s a solo acoustic set from Ultravox frontman and Band Aid composer Midge Ure that reveals the artistry in his songwriting and Los Pacaminos bring their own tex-mex party to north Norfolk. Every member of this supergroup has a first-class musical pedigree the match of their famous singer. For a final night rock-out Sex Pistol Glen Matlock brings his Philistines. There’s new talent too with much feted singer songwriter Nadine Shah, hotly tipped by The Guardian for her album Love Your Dum and Mad and the precocious talent of 15 year old Sacha Luffman. As bass player in Joy Division and New Order, two of the most influential bands of the last 50 years, Peter Hook has defined the musical tastes of a generation. With his band Peter Hook and the Light he will be revisiting the back catalogue of both bands in a glorious show that will rock Voewood to its very foundations.
 
The Incredible String Band are still cited as a massive influence on much of the music that has followed them and on the afternoon of 16 August 1969 they took to the stage at the Woodstock Festival. Mike Heron, the singer and guitarist from the band will perform a solo set at Voewood almost 45 years to the hour since he played at the legendary American festival.
 
Simon commented ‘It will be 45 years to the day since Mike Heron was being helicoptered into Woodstock with Ravi Shankar to perform his set with The Incredible String Band. What a privilege to have him playing at Voewood on this anniversary’.
 
In addition to all this there will be excellent food and drink from local suppliers, a programme of dedicated children’s events, book and record stalls, impromptu discussions, special guests, and much, much more. Voewood truly is a magically special event the like no other.
 
Voewood will once again be raising money for the nearby Kelling Hospital. In previous years over £7,000 has been raised.
 
Early bird weekend tickets are on sale from 1 May at the discount prices of £125 for adults, £95 for under 30s and £60 for under 16s (under 16s tickets only available with adult tickets, under 5s free). These will be available until 28 May, after which tickets will revert to full price and single day and evening tickets will also be available. Tickets available from www.voewoodfestival.com via 01603 598636 or in person at Norwich Theatre Royal and Voewood Art & Books in Holt.

Voewood

Cromer Road, High Kelling (nr Holt)

Norfolk NR25 6QS

Voewood is an Arts & Crafts house with a Rock & Roll spirit. When Country Life Magazine set out to find England’s Favourite House, Voewood was the triumph of the Eastern region. 

A captivating example of the Arts & Crafts aesthetic, Voewood is a spellbinding place. Hidden from sight in wooded grounds it stands on the edge of Holt, a small Georgian town near the glorious North Norfolk coast. Designed as a home, for decades Voewood was used instead as a series of institutions from a boys’ school to a girls’ hospital. In 1998 bookseller Simon Finch became the owner and Voewood was reborn with confident style. Part restoration, part rejuvenation, Voewood is more than winning architecture and tasteful decoration. It’s an emotional, charismatic house, welcoming and unpretentious, wearing its history with a flourish of swaggering fun.

Sensitivity to artistic tradition is capriciously combined with an offbeat personal history; Voewood embraces the Arts & Crafts spirit but it’s no museum piece, imprisoned in time. Voewood is a living house and its stories are still being written.


Early Bird Tickets will be on sale from 1-28 May offering exceptional value. They can be bought online at www.voewoodfestival.com  by phone on 01603 598636 and in person at Norwich Theatre Royal ·              Adult weekend ticket: £125

·              Under 30 yrs weekend ticket £95 (limited numbers)

·              Child (5-15 yrs) weekend ticket £50 

·              Under 5s FREE (no booking required)

 
From 29 May onwards tickets will revert to full price and single day/evening tickets will also go on sale. 
·              Adult weekend ticket £165

·              Under 30s weekend ticket £110 (limited numbers)

·              Child (5-15 yrs) weekend ticket £60 

·              Under 5s FREE

 
Single Day tickets (until 5.30pm) Adult £40
Child (5-15 yrs) £20
 
Single Evening only tickets (from 7.00pm) Friday 15th and Sunday 17th
Adult £30
Child (5-15 yrs) £15
 
Saturday 16th (Peter Hook & The Light + Nadine Shah)
Adult £35
Child (5-15 yrs) £15
 
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and child tickets can only be purchased with an adult ticket