Frequency annually | Location(s) Wendens Ambo, Essex | |
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Inaugurated June 19, 2010 (2010-06-19) | ||
Waldstock is an annual charity music festival held in the grounds of the Fighting Cocks Public House, Wendens Ambo, Essex. Waldstock is organised entirely by volunteers, many of them musicians themselves, and the bands who appear give their time totally free of charge. In 2011, the festival landed on the weekend of 22–24 July.
Contents
Founding
The idea for Waldstock began after a previous event at the venue, organised by an independent third-party, was not given license to go ahead by the council in May 2010. A small committee of local musicians and music fans put the event together in just five weeks, and it was held on the 19 & 20 June 2010.
The first festival received an excellent response from local people, as the local press reported; "Hundreds of music lovers attended the two day Waldstock charity music festival...they were treated to some of the finest bands in the area, including Dennis Stratton & Tommy Dunn, Supercasino, Another Storm, Aliceband, This Way Up, and The Wrinklies."
Fundraising
Waldstock's primary aim apart from promoting local music and arts, is to raise money for local charitable causes.
In 2011 the principle charitable beneficiary was the emergency first response team, "MEDICS". MEDICS doctors work on a totally voluntary basis, bringing specialist emergency medical care to treat the seriously ill and injured until they can be transported to an Accident and Emergency Hospital in the region. Immediate medical care saves lives - and reduces the risk of complications that follow serious injuries - over half the deaths occurring in accidents happen in the first 15 minutes.
Waldstock also supported two other local, smaller, charitable causes in 2011.
In 2010, the event raised £2500, donating £2000 to Carver Barracks’ Injured Soldiers’ Fund, and guitars (worth £500) to Uttlesford Youth Music Project, based at Fairycroft centre, Saffron Walden.
Tickets
For the 2011 event, a 3-day-pass cost £12. Tickets were available from tourist information in Market Square, Saffron Walden, the Fighting Cocks, and via the Waldstock website. 12s and under went free. There were limited tickets available to purchase on the door for each of the days, priced at; £5 Friday, £8 Saturday, and £5 Sunday.
Directions
From Cambridge - Join the A11 and come off at the B184/B183 for Newport/Saffron Walden. Follow the road through Great Chesterford and Littlebury. The pub is on the left hand side before Newport.
From London - Join the M11 and come off at junction 8A and take the A120 towards Bishops Stortford. Join the B1383 towards Stansted, continue through Stansted, Ugley, Quendon and Newport. Head straight on at the roundabout, and the pub is about 600 yards further, on the right hand side.
By rail - from London, get on any train towards Cambridge, and from Cambridge, get on any train towards London Liverpool St. Every train stops at Audley End. Leave the station car park, turn right at the end of the road, and the pub is a five-minute walk down the hill.
Bands
Waldstock relies heavily on the generosity and talent of many local/regional bands who give their time and music for nothing. The area has long had an excellent reputation for producing a large number of brilliant musicians, and as the festival has grown it is beginning to attract some bands of significant stature. However, in keeping with their objectives, Waldstock will continue to promote a core lineup of bands from the local and regional area.
In 2011 the festival boasts a lineup of over 25 bands, including: Zocalo, Guardians of Andromeda, Ivan & The Wolves, She Makes War, The Pins, The Strangerhood, AlicebanD, and Gema Hadridge. DJ Tim Faberge reprises his role, entertaining the crowd between bands.
2011
(Confirmed as of 11.05.11 - lineup subject to change)