about us - a history of the festival

  WALLINGFORD BLUES & BEER FESTIVAL
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From humble beginnings, with inspired volunteers, sprang one of Britain’s most respected blues festivals that in 2019 will celebrate its 27th event.
 
Back in 1991 an unspoiled and unsuspecting Oxfordshire market town was desperate to keep their old cinema building open for events and recreational use. One Saturday morning back then 'The Regal' had hosted the local Women’s Institute market followed by a quaint little beer festival with live music. This first beer-and-live-music event was run by the local Round Table and inspired by a blues-loving immigrant (from faraway Reading) known as ‘Dancing Sailor’ John, now immortalised in the festival logo. Albeit the first event had an oompha-band, the musical seed was planted and eventually blossomed into Wallingford Blues & Beer Festival.
 
The philosophy of the festival has always been to provide live music to local audiences with, of course, the accompaniment of beer (or was it the other way around?). Saturday afternoon in particular, which later became known as the ‘Family Session’, was designed for accompanied children to witness live music, many of whom had probably never seen real people playing real instruments. Thus the festival is free for children to attend in the hope that they will, one day, take up the reigns.
 
The festival quickly moved in the blues direction whilst at the same time encouraging local bands to perform, many of them youngsters, and inspire them to appear live on the same billing as established national artists.  After about a decade the event reached its first crisis point when the local Round Table had to pull out of what was then ‘Wallingford Beer and Blues Festival’. Things momentarily faltered. What was to become of the town’s first music festival, the inspiration behind many, many music events that had subsequently started up in the town? Well, it didn’t take much press-ganging from Sailor John to raise a crew of volunteers who have steered the ship ever since. At the same time, and in an attempt to gain more respectability (and sponsorship), the event re-branded as 'Wallingford Blues and Beer Festival' (blues first and beer second!). The new team breathed new wind into the sails and more accomplished bands came and played. With that notoriety and respect grew as an established event began to unfold.
 
There could have been a second crisis with the sad passing of Sailor John in 2006, but this gave even more cause to continue in his memory and bands were now applying to appear! Lightening struck again in 2013 when another founder died and again there was a question over the future of the event.  A firm reciting of the founding philosophy and an injection of new blood ensured continuity – this event couldn’t die it was now bigger than individuals and bigger than the town; it was becoming a blues institution, a national treasure...

Progressing from a one-day event to two nights and an afternoon this festival inspired the way for arguably the biggest free festival in the country; BunkFest, hosted in the town since 2001 and a more recent newcomer Rugfest (est. 2009) both of which are huge live music family events. The latter we are now grateful to for our resurrection in 2019.

During its lifespan the festival has given the proceeds of events as donations to local charities for the direct benefit of children, preferably through music projects. So, if you’re into stat.s then;
  • around 150 bands have played at the event,
  • approx. 3,500 pints sold each year
  • sold out six times in 2014, 2015 & 2016 (some nights even before the doors opened!)
  • Over £40,000 has been given to over 40 charities
 
Ticket prices included free pint 'glasses', which have become collector items in their own right. Each year they have a unique logo and date printed on them. Event capacity at The Regal was 500, including an outside area and was close to the town centre, only three miles from the nearest rail station, loads of parking right next door, three camp sites in town and plenty of accommodation (if you’re early enough). 
 
If you want a reminder of Wallingford look at your 1p coin; the portcullis was taken from the town emblem when the Royal Mint was here. That was probably the last thing Wallingford was famous before, of course,
 the Blues and Beer Festival.., unless you count Cromwell leaving the castle in tatters after the Civil War... 
 
The evolution:
1991               Wallingford Beer Festival
1992-99         Wallingford Beer & Bands
2000-2005     Wallingford Beer & Blues Festival
2006-to date  Wallingford Blues & Beer Festival 


​
SOME OF THE BANDS THAT HAVE PLAYED FOR US
24 Pesos
Acoustic Blues
Aynsley Lister Band 
Backbone
Band - Tom Williams
Bare Bones Boogie Band
Beggars Belief
Big Boy Bloater
Big Boys Band
Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings
Black and Blue
Blockheads
Blue Touch
Blues in the Blood
Bok
Cadallacs
Chantel McGregor
Charles Walker
Chill Out Mouse
Clarence 'Tex' Walker
Connie Lush
Cry Baby and the Hoochie Coochie Boys
Dave Berry and the Norman Beaker band
Dave Illingworth & Graham Larkbey
David Bristow
David Raphael Band
Distinction Failed
Earl Green and the Right Time
Frankie "Blues Boy" Connolly and Chilly Breeze
Friday's Child
G Mike S
Giles Hedley and the Aviators
Glass Factory
Ian Briggs and the SuperVampers
Ian Parker
Jam session
Jodie O'Callaghan
John Pearson, Blues & Beyond
John Walsh Band
Juke Boy Barkus, Baldie McGhee and the Roof-Top Playboys
Kennet Sheiks
Kent Du Chane
Kent Du Chane
King Earle Boogie Band
King King
Krissy Matthews band
Kyla Brox Band
Larry Miller
Mark Coleman
Martin Trimble and Outside Help
Mo'Indigo
Mumbo Jumbo
Oddysey of Fran / Felony of Funk
Otis Grand & his Big Band
Papa George
Patrick Cogswell
Paul Cox
Paul Lamb & the King Snakes
Peacetakers
Perry Foster
Pete Boss and the Bluehearts
Pete G & the Magnitones
Pint and a Half of Blues
Ramblin' Minor
Ray Stubbs
Reconsider
Rhythm Zoo
Richochet
Ricky Cool and the Hoola Boola Boys
Robert Hokum
Robert Hokum and The Guv'nors
Roland Chadwick
Rush-in
Russ Payne and the Shark Dentists
Rythym Zoo
Sam Kelly's Station House
Scarlett and the Hussies (Jodie)
Scott Duncan
Simon Winks
Skin The Cat
Slowburner
Sonny Black
Southside Blues Band
Split the Riff and the Shower of Power Horns
Station House
Steve Roux and the Brass Knuckle Blues Band
Stompin' Dave
Storm Warning
Stu Weetman
Tensheds
The Animals
The Bill Sheffield Band
The Blues Band
The Blues Grinders
The Business
The Corsairs
The Daniel Smith Blues Band
The Eric Street Band
The Guv'nors featuring Robert Hokum
The Hamsters
The Jason Manners Band
The Micheal Roach Band
The Mike Sanchez Band
The Mud Morganfield Band
The Music Club
The PeaceTakers
The Piranha Band featuring ZZ Birmingham
The Ragtime Jug Orchestra
The Riverside Blues Band
The Roosters
The Southside Blues Band
The SpikeDrivers
The Spooks
The Stumble
Thomas Ford
Treble Standard
Wallingford School Fun Band
Winks and the Minx + guest Barney
ZZ Birmingham​

Copyright 2019 Wallingford Blues & Beer Festival

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