Music Matters: Get ready for a festival frenzy

The festival season is looming large - and we are spoilt for choice in our part of the country with big and small events guaranteed to satisfy a range of diverse musical tastes.

Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival is running between 28 - 30 August and features a variety of top talent including Richard Ashcroft, Scissor Sisters, Basement Jaxx and Nile Rodgers & Chic. It is one of the UK’s leading festivals that never disappoints.

Chichester’s Westgate Fields is the location for the Back Then Music Festival on 8 August where Tinchy Stryder, Toploader and others will be performing. It really is great to see a music festival of this scale back in Chichester.

If you are a middle-aged person like me, you may recall the glory days of festival fun in Chichester with the much-missed Real Ale and Jazz Festival that hosted amazing acts over the years including Blondie, Status Quo, 10cc and Boney M.

Even the mighty James Brown took to the stage in 2000 which I still find hard to believe – the Godfather of soul did a gig in quaint little Chichester – who would have thought it!?

For music fans who are happy to travel a bit further, the Wickham Festival near Fareham runs between 30 July and 2 August. Rated as one of the UK’s most family friendly festivals, the line-up includes The Saw Doctors, The Proclaimers and Curtis Stigers.

My musical gem: Folk fans are spoilt for choice at this year’s South Downs Music Festival in Bognor Regis that is happening between 11 – 13 September. A highlight for me will be Phil Beer who is playing on 11 September at Venue 24 on Bognor Pier. Phil is one half of the award-winning folk duo Show of Hands who have achieved legendary status in the folk music world over the last few decades.

Listen to Duncan Barkes on Nation Easy Radio, Monday to Friday nights from 10pm. Nation Easy Radio can be heard on DAB digital radio, via the Nation Player app and on your smart speaker – just say “Play Nation Easy Radio.”