Beachdown festival: The inthenews.co.uk preview

Beachdown festival: The inthenews.co.uk preview

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Tuesday, 18, Aug 2009 10:44

By Chris O'Toole.

While the Great Escape festival has allowed the pretenders to walk the boards of Brighton's smaller stages in recent years, it is the annual Beachdown showcase which has become home to the real stars.

Set at Devil's Dyke in the South Downs - just a short bus ride from the centre of town - Beachdown offers revellers a selection of groups at the pinnacle of the fields. For example who could argue with the contribution of Grandmaster Flash to hip-hop, Saint Etienne to dance, or the role of Grace Jones or the Blockheads in the development new-wave? All will be showing just why they are so revered during their performances here.

Matched with a crop of today's brightest talents - with everybody from the Zutons, Super Furry Animals and irrepressible the Fall also scheduled to appear - the stage is set for a truly memorable event.

But it is not just the music which draws the crowds, pied piper like, through the hills.

One of the biggest praises of 2008 was the variety of food on offer, with a wealth of local restaurants upping sticks and moving their kitchens to the campsite. Furthermore prime drinks brands such as Sagres, Makers Mark, Chairmans Reserve, Pimms and Life Pure Water will all be contributing to the liquid diets of those in attendance!

Kidstown will offer a dedicated family area, with a rolling programme of events designed to amuse younger visitors throughout the event. For the ecologically minded the Big Lemon Bus - which is 100 per cent run on cooking oil - will be on hand to ferry visitors to the site from Brighton.

Back with the music and Beachdown maintains its reputation for supporting local acts, with the Concorde2 Brighton Band Stage expecting sets from over 50 local bands. Highlights are sure to include Los Albertos, The Mojo Fins and Gentleman Starkey.

Taking place from August 28th to 31st, tickets are priced at £106 for those over 18-years-of-age, while younger visitors can for £45 and under threes go free. Head over to Beachdown fore more information.