Rick Wakeman launches festival

Rick Wakeman will host his own music festival later this year, he’s announced.

The keyboard icon will present a bill featuring artists he’s worked with throughout his career at Lincolnshire’s Boston Gliderdrome on the weekend of October 30 to November 1, 2015.

Already announced for Wakemanfest are Mike Livesley’s version of Vivian Stanshall’s Sir Henry At Rawlinson End, The English Rock Ensemble, the Strawbs, the Cadbury Sisters and others. Q&A sessions will take place throughout the weekend.

Wakeman says: “I wanted to create a festival I would want to go to myself. We chose the Gliderdrome because of its amazing history – I remember playing there many times over the years, especially with Yes. It all starts on the Friday, with a full day Saturday and a very special charity day on the Sunday, which finishes around 5pm so everybody can head off home.”

Further details including hotel deals will appear on the Wakemanfest website.

Events so far

Fri, Oct 30: Wakeman Cubed, The Cadbury Sisters

Sat, Oct 31: English Rock Ensemble, The Strawbs, Sir Henry At Rawlinson End

Sun, Nov 01: Rick Wakeman & the English Rock Ensemble and Chrissie Hammond, Kevin Orkian, Magician, the Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.