2018 Events in the Recreation Ground
BOWIE’S BECKENHAM ODDITY is an annual fundraiser, supported by David Bowie when he provided signed items for auction at the event. This year the Bowie Archive has donated another item signed by him, more details of which will follow before the festival in August. Money raised goes to the Bandstand Restoration & Plaque Fund. Meanwhile here’s the press release, with ticket links, etc... + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + BOWIE’S
BECKENHAM ODDITY 2018: A festival celebrating the life and legacy of David Bowie, his time in Beckenham and beyond. Fans and music lovers worldwide are invited to come together on Saturday 11th August 2018, in Beckenham, South London, to celebrate David Bowie's songs, life and influence, in the park where his rise to stardom began back in 1969. The third “Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity” will take place at Croydon Road Recreation Ground, centred around the same iconic bandstand where Bowie and friends from the Beckenham Arts Lab held the UK’s first Free Festival - “The Growth Summer Festival” - on 16 August, nearly 49 years ago. The festival coincided with the release of David’s first hit single “Space Oddity” and the day was later immortalised with another Bowie single release: “Memory Of A Free Festival”. This year’s event kicks off at 12 noon, with a line-up of musical talent who will reprise Bowie’s greatest songs, including “Life On Mars?”, the career defining classic he wrote whilst sat on the bandstand steps as well as doing some of their own songs. Other attractions include food and drinks by local vendors, a raffle of donated prizes, and the auction of Bowie related memorabilia. Tickets cost £10 adults, £5 for 10 to 16 year olds, and under 10's go free! Tickets are available online in advance from http://smarturl.it/BBOtix2018 or at the gate on the day of the event. Fans can also support the event via the personalised brick sales, which will be laid in their name around the bandstand on restoration. They can also donate to the “Bowie Bandstand Restoration & Plaque Fund”, which will honour not only David Bowie, but all of the people who took part in the initial 1969 festival: http://smarturl.it/BowieBandstandAppeal + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + B.B.O. Organiser Wendy Faulkner After being actively involved in previous fundraiser events for the bandstand, when news broke of David Bowie’s death, Wendy felt they had to do this tribute for him and to get this unique piece of musical history restored in his name: "It’s not just about Bowie, but also all the people who were involved with him along his path to stardom. Brixton has its mural, Aylesbury now has its Earthly Messenger statue, but for me the most real and meaningful place has to be at the bandstand. His ties to the borough and the bandstand are without question; he thrived here, having found the freedom to develop the songs that would later change him, change music and change the world. Slightly off the beaten track, it’s well worth the journey to come along to see it and experience it first-hand. I'm pleased that David Bowie knew of the fundraising efforts, and donated signed items for the events before his passing. We will never see anyone like Bowie again, a true legend and star, and this is our way to keep the memory alive and put the iconic bandstand on the map." + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + “Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity” is supported by idverde , Bromley Parks, and The London Borough of Bromley, who have named the bandstand "The Bowie Bandstand" in his honour. Tickets: http://smarturl.it/BBOtix2018 For further information,
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Do you love Motown and Soul? Join us for the biggest summer event of the year. We have an incredible line up - to be announced very soon. Two huge bars, VIP garden, champagne bars, huge festival stage, stalls, street food and much more. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for announcements. One thing we can guarantee you wont be dissapointed. follow the link below
for tickets! Previous Events
follow the link below
for tickets!
Bromley Concert Band - May 2017
Community Carols - 18 December 2016
Lewisham Concert Band - 11 September 2016
Bowie's Beckenham Oddity - 13 August 2016
BOWIE’S BECKENHAM ODDITY Bowie fans and music lovers from Britain and beyond came together in Beckenham, south London on Saturday 13 August 2016, in the park where his rise to stardom took off in 1969. Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity took place at the bandstand at the Croydon Road Recreation Ground, where Bowie and his friends from the Beckenham Arts Lab organised The UK’s first Free Festival on 16 August, 47 years ago. The festival coincided with the release of David’s first hit single Space Oddity and was immortalised with another hit song, Memory Of A Free Festival. This year’s event kicked off with a stellar line up of musical talent, who reprised lots of Bowie’s greatest songs including Life On Mars?, which he began to write while sitting on the bandstand steps. Featured artists include Malcolm Doherty, Daphne Guinness, Maggi Ronson, Phillip Rambow and Boe Huntress. There was a welcome return from Amory Kane who played at the 1969 Free Festival and also at the 2013 and 2014 Memory of a Free Festival events organised at the bandstand by Beckenham resident Natasha Ryzhova Lau. The avant garde duo Raf & O were also welcomed back, following their performances in 2013 and 2014. David’s co-founder and organiser of The Beckenham Arts Lab, Mary Finnigan, signed copies of her recently published book Psychedelic Suburbia. The two Memory of a Free Festival events raised £16,000 towards the bandstand restoration fund. Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity organiser Wendy Faulkner says her aim this year was to raise even more. “After the devastating news of David’s death in January we felt we had to do a tribute for him -- and there’s no more fitting place to do this than the bandstand where he played in 1969,” she said. “It’s not just about Bowie, but also all the people who were involved with him along his path to stardom”. Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity was supported by The London Borough of Bromley, which has named the bandstand in his honour. When enough money is raised, it will be restored to its former glory. Other attractions this year included food and drinks by local caterers Dizzy’s Diner, plus market stalls. There was an auction of Bowie memorabilia at the end of the day. Visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bowies.beckenham.oddity/
BeckRecFest - Sunday 10th July 2016
Crystal Palace Progress Brass Band - 22 May 2016
Lewisham Concert Band - 27 September 2015
BeckRecFest - Sunday 12th July 2015
This was a joint event with Dizzy's Diner and The Friends and raised £500 towards the bandstand renovation fund (click images to enlarge)
Bromley Concert Band played on the Bandstand
on Sunday 14th June 2015
Memory of a Free Festival 2014 To the delight of David Bowie fans
and music lovers at home and abroad, Memory of a Free
Festival reprised on Saturday 16 August.
More information about the event The event has a Facebook page here Media Coverage:
Newshopper
article
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2nd July 2014 Bromley Concert Band played on the Bandstand
on a glorious afternoon on Sunday 18th May 2014
CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE AND THE BECKENHAM ARTS LAB The residential south of London may not conjure up visions of youthful exuberance and rock music but, on a very wet Sunday 15th September 2013, the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground were not disappointed when hundreds of people descended on the recreation ground to celebrate David Bowie - Beckenham's most famous former Beckenham resident, the legacy of the Arts Laboratory he co-founded, and the sensational Free Festival that Arts Lab members staged on the Bandstand in the park in 1969.
Click here for more information Media
Coverage: Bromley Concert Band played on the Bandstand
on a glorious afternoon on Sunday 19th May 2013
Some
pictures from the Bandstand Marathon afternoon
Some
pictures from Dizzy's Diner Family Fun Day
The 'Hearts of Steel' steel band played in the bandstand on the afternoon of Sunday 18th September 2011 and the children were entertained by David Wilde with his Punch & Judy Show
Bromley Concert Band played in the Bandstand on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd May 2011 and the children were entertained by David Wilde with his Punch & Judy Show
Photos courtesy of Roger M Stephens ARPS The Friends presented another afternoon of free family fun and music at the Bandstand on Sunday 30th May 2010 at which The Hares played some popular numbers. and Mr. Bonkers who created models from balloons for the children (and adults!)
Scenes from May Queens' Coronations on Saturday 1st May 2010 (Click on the images to enlarge them)
The Friends presented an afternoon of free family fun and music at the Bandstand on Sunday 20th September 2009 at which Adelphi Rhode played a wide variety of music . The children were entertained by David Wilde with his Punch & Judy Show and Mr. Bonkers who created models from balloons for the children (and adults!) (Click on the images to enlarge them)
On
a VERY wet weekend in September 2008 Beckenham Family
show and Country Fayre took place.
The
Friends presented an afternoon of free family fun and
music at the bandstand on Sunday 25th May 2008. The band
played a mixture of Blue Grass, country and Irish music
while the children were, as last year, entertained by
Punch & Judy and an entertainer from the Big Hand
company.
Pictures
from Beckenham
and West Wickham Lions Fete, July 2007
Picture from the May Queen Coronations 2007
Beckenham
Area May Queen, Georgina Bowen with her Prince Tiane
Sauvage-Cole Pictures
from the Beckenham Family Show, September 2006
© The Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground 2008 - |
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