Evening Gazette, 28 June, 2004
It's not quite Glastonbury but Kelvedon is putting itself firmly on the festival map. The Essex Village bravely went head-to-head with the world's most famous festival on Saturday and came out with it's pride intact. Glastonbury may boast 100,000 adoring fans and Oasis on the Pyramid stage, but Kelvedon had its own line up of local talent to rock crowds from the back of a lorry trailer on the recreation ground.

Organisers reckon more than 3,000 people turned out for the event which is now in it's sixth year. Jan Cole siad: "We held the first one in 1999 and thought - that was fun, let's do it again, and it's just kept growing. There are ten of us on the commitee plus volunteers who just come to help out. We have to kick them out from behind the bar in the beer tent - they enjoy it that much."

Bands included the Stingrays, Carrier, Cousin Joey, Monochrome, Landslide, Buckshee, Bouncing Off Concrete and Blues Brothers tribute act Commited to the Blues. Jan said: "We held a battle of the Bands in February and Landslide won it. Their average age is only 16 but they were fantastic". She added: "It is a really brilliant village event and the support from everyone has been superb."

Essex County Standard, 25 June, 2004
Couldn't get tickets for Glastonbury? Then come to Kelvedon! That's the message from organisers of this years Kelvedon Music Festival, which takes place tomorrow at the Kelvedon Recreational Ground.

Now in it's sixth year, the event promises to be one of the best yet with a cracking line-up of local bands performing seven hours of live music. The first band takes to the stage at noon with the last rounding off the event at about 6pm, finishing their set at 7pm.

Among the groups taking part are Coggeshall noise merchants Carrier, the festival's very own Battle Of The Band winner Linner Landslide, of Tiptree, and headliners Cousing Joey, from Maldon, who have recently signed a record deal with Dentall Records.

The compere for the event will be Kelvedon's very own musical star, Tony Winn. There are numerous other attractions and workshops at the free event including the Kelvedon Dance Studio, Golem Theatre, art on the railings, clay modelling and a bouncy castle.

The local Scouts will be providing the barbeque and there will also be many other food outlets providing refreshments, as well as the obligatory beer tent. (snip)

The Tribune, June 2004
The sixth Kelvedon Music Festival, which takes place on Saturday 26 June, boasts its biggest and best line-up ever, and it's all free! A staggering range of local talent has been booked to perform seven hours of live music.

First band will be performing at 12 noon and the last band will be on stage at approximately 6pm finishing around 7pm (snip). The venue is Kelvedon Recreational Ground, The Chase, High Street, Kelvedon (opposite the United Reformed Church. There is no parking at the venue but plenty of parking at Kelvedon Station, which is a short walk from The Chase.

All the bands are local, in particular rising stars Carrier from Coggeshall, and our Battle Of The Bands' winner 'Landslide' who are from Tiptree.

Other bands include 'Cousin Joey', 'Buckshee!', 'Bouncing Off Concrete', 'The Stingrays', 'Monochrome', 'Commited To The Blues', and our compere, Kelvedon's very own Tony Winn.

There are numerous other attractions and workshops including the Kelvedon Dance Studio, Golem Theatre, the Jobserve bus, Art on the Railings, Slim Your Bin + recycling, the Responsible Dog Owners' roadshow, clay modelling, hair braiding, trampolines, bouncy castle and coconut shy. The local Scouts brovide the barbeque; there will also be many other food outlets and the quintessential beer tent.

Featured bands 'Cousin Joey' have just signed to Dentíall Records and are preparing to take the country by storm. After three years of hard slog, the Maldon based ska-punk-rockers have taken a big step towards fame and fortune, but have found time to play Kelvedon Festival and give all the Joey fans a chance to jump around in the great outdoors.

'Buckshee!' can claim to have been one of the most popular and lively acts on the Colchester pub circuit for several years. From Cajun to Caribbean, Irish to Appalachian, rock to reggae, their exciting and versatile set will appeal to all ages. We are looking forward to their dynamic mix of guitars, fiddle, drums, tin whistle, saxaphone and mandolin.

Braintree rockers 'Bouncing Off Concrete' were one of the first bands to be signed up for this years event. We booked them after catching them in full flow at The Rifleman, and boy, do they rock. Formed from the ashes of 'Pereseverance', 'Stiff In The Morning' and 'Gin Palace', these guys have put together a scintillating set of contemporary and classic rock covers.

'The Stingrays' have been gigging for around 15 years and create and authentic blend of '50s rock'n'roll, '60s beat and surf music. The Maldon based four-piece have performed all over England, France, Germany, and are still playing extensively. We can't wait to wax down our surfboards and enjoy the 'wipeout' at Kelvedon Recreation Ground.

'Landslide' is our youngest band, and will open the 2004 Festival. They won our 'Battle Of The Bands' contest, seeing off very stiff opposition from four other local bands. The lads hail from Tiptree and Tollesbury, and got together last summer. Having started as a covers band, they have progressed to writing and performing their own Metallica/Pantera influenced material. Don't miss them - you will be impressed!

there is more to come.....

Braintree & Witham Times, June 2003
Kelvedon's fifth annual celebration of music and the arts attracted several thousand visitors on Saturday.

The festival, helped by a £1000 grant this year, took over the playing field to feature a line=up of local musicians, performers and artists, including Last Chance, The Marvin Project, Wandrin' Soles, Tony Winn, Relay, Downflow and Escucha!

There was dance and street theatre from Kelvedon Dance Studio, Kelvedon Players, Tony Delafou and Golem Theatre Cloud 9, plus workshops in clay and natural materials.

Treasurer Jan Cole said: 'We've made enough to pay for next year's festival, with the help of the grant, which is all we ask. It cost about £4,000, so that is quite an achievement for the village.

The hardest job was getting up the huge marquee, borrowed from Silver End Scouts. The exhausted team finished the task late on Friday night.

Braintree & Witham Times, 19 June, 2003
Musicians, performers and artists will have the chance to showcase their talents in the Kelvedon Festival on Saturday. The festival, now in its fifth year, is a real community event designed to give local people a platform.

This year's line-up includes 'Last Chance', 'The Marvin Project', "Wandrin' Soles', Tony Winn, 'Relay', 'Downflow' and 'Escucha!'. There will also be dance and street theatre from Kelvedon Dance Studio, Kelvedon Players, Tony Delafou and Golem Theatre Cloud 9. There will be workshops in clay and natural materials, art on the railings and various stalls and activities for all the family.

Said organiser Lindsey Cornes: 'We always try to arrange a varied programme to suit all tastes and give a chance for some of our younger talent to perform in a professional atmosphere. We also like to provide opportunities for people to be more than spectators and get involved in some of the arts activities.'

The festival is costing about £4,000 to stage and a recent Lottery grant of £1,000, added to a similar award from Braintree Council community fund and fundraising activities, completed the funding for the event.

The whole thing is organised by a band of hard-working volunteers and pubs, clubs and churches are among the groups who get involved.

Braintree & Witham Times, 26 June, 2003
Any type of music so long as it's live - that was the basis of this year's Kelvedon Festival. The festival, now in it's fifth year, aims to provide a showcase for local musical talent and involve as many community groups and individuals as possible from the surrounding area.

The line-up of bands at The Chase recreation ground on Saturday included 'Last Chance', 'The Marvin Project', Wandrin' Soles', Tony Winn, 'Relay', 'Downflow' and 'Escucha!'. Dance and street theatre was also on show from Kelvedon Dance Studio, Kelvedon Players, Tony Delafou and Golem Theatre Cloud 9.

Community groups helping with catering and organisation included Kelvedon Scouts, Art Society and Labour Club, Traidcraft and Kelvedon In Bloom.

Other stalls included those providing information on environmental awareness and pet care from Braintree Council and a bus from employment agency Jobserve.

Festival treasurer Jan Cole said: 'There must be 100 people giving up their free time, we can never thank them enough. We want people to appreciate live music and give local musicians the chance to show what they can do, and bring all the community groups together.

Nick Maxell of Inworth Road, Feering, was at the Festival with his daughters Emily, three, and Alice, 21 months. He said: 'It's very good, I really like the music and it's good having the balloon man giving out balloons because the children love it.'

The festival cost about £5,000 to stage, with £1,000 coming from and Awards For All lottery grant and a similar sum from Braintree Council's community fund. The remainder was raised through sponsorship and volunteers.

Braintree & Witham Times, June 2004
It's not quite Glastonbury but Kelvedon is putting itself firmly on the festival map. The Essex village bravely went head-to-head with the world's most famous festival on Saturday and came out with it's pride intact.

Glastonbury may boast 100,000 adoring fans and 'Oasis' on the Pyramid stage, but Kelvedon had it's own line-up of local talent to rock crowds from the back of a lorry trailer on the recreation ground. Organisers reckon more than 3,000 people turned out for the event which is now in its sixth year.

Jan Cole said: 'We held the first one in 1999 and thought that was fun, let's do it again, and it just kept growing. There are ten of us on the commitee plus volunteers who just come to help out. We have to try to kick them out from behind the bar in the beer tent - they enjy it that much!'

Bands taking part included 'The Stingrays', 'Carrier', 'Cousin Joey', 'Monochrome', 'Landslide', 'Buckshee!', 'Bouncing Off Concrete' and Blues Brothers tributes act 'Commited To The Blues'.

Jan said: 'We held a Battle Of The Bands in February and 'Landslide' won it. Their average age is only 16 but they were fantastic.' She added: 'We have recorded the whole thing this year which is great. It is a brilliant village event and the support from everyone has been superb'.

Braintree & Witham Times, June 2002
An impressive line-up of local rock bands, artists and skilled craftsmen is hoped to draw in the crowds at this year's Kelvedon Festival. Singer and songwriter Tony Winn, of London Road, Kelvedon, is hosting the popular event on Saturday as well as having a short spell in the spotlight performing some of his well known tunes.

St Mary's School steel band, who performed at Colchester Prom, and Kelvedon Dance Studio students will also be wowing the crowds. As well as Colchester band Mahony, brother and sister duo Clive and Becky Carroll, Maldon singer Rick Christian, Colchester band Rocking Horse, blues guitar player Chris Steinhauer, Colchester band Dog Friendly and Braintree band The Marques Brothers.

Organiser Lindsey Cornes said: 'We've got a wide variety of acts which we hope will bring their own following.' Festival goers are also being invited to learn a new skill including pottery-making, kite building and wooden models.

The festival has an environmental conscience with recycling minibanks on site, provided by Braintree Council, the County Council Waste Buster Bus and the Responsible Dog Owners Road Show. (snip)

Evening Gazette, June 2002
More than 1,000 people enjoyed the annual Kelvedon Festival. New and old rock bands and skilled craftsmen entertained and the circus workshop and mime artist was said to be a real hit with the children.

Music blared out from midday and many coud be seen jigging to the sound of the tunes or just sitting and relaxing on the grass.

Singer and songwriter Tony Winn, of London Road, Kelvedon hosted the popular event as well as having a short spell in the spotlight performing some of his well known tunes.

St Mary's School steel band, who performed at Colchester Prom, and Kelvedon Dance Studio students also wowed the crowds.

Organiser Jan Cole said: 'It was an excellent day and some people say we had more people this year. The bands were all great so we're going to be spoilt for choice next year."