"Rock in the Park" - 2024

		Another RITP! ...done .... 9th June 2024 12PM - 7PM King George V Playing Fields Part of Stevenage Day

Between 1996 and 2007 'Rock in the Park' was a much loved Stevenage event. Taking place in Fairlands Valley Park, it grew from a small concert with about 200 attendees to a yearly fun day for thousands of people enjoying a free family day out. Many local bands performed on the bandstand stage and many local people worked hard as volunteers to make the event happen.

Sadly the day became a victim of its own success when it proved impossible for volunteers to continue to deliver such a popular event, within the physical constraints of the Fairlands location, to the public safety standards demanded today - and to keep it free too. But many people, including the Festival, have never given up on being able to bring back something like Rock in the Park to Stevenage.

In 2016 Stevenage Borough Council worked with local recording studio The Practice Roomz to introduce a music stage to another well-loved local event - Stevenage Day and we helped to provide some of the monies to pay for the headliners. We've been supporting them since then. And last year Stevenage Festival has joined with them to inject a bit more of the old Rock in the Park magic. Although the Festival only runs every two years we have supported Rock in the Park each year it has run as part of Stevenage Day.

So, as ever, this year it WAS in a park (albeit a different one than the original park), it was still be free and it had a great rock line-up. We bring together the best of our local music talent on two great sound stages, finishing with a great headliner to close the event. This year it will be The Revivals.

This year we hoped for the same great weather as last (DRY!) and great music on two stages and whilst we got great music the weather certainly wasn't bright or Hot but at least it was dry.

We'd like to get bigger and better in future years - more bands, more facilities, but we can only do this and keep it free if we all work together. If you love Rock in the Park this year then please support us with this step towards building it back to its past glory. If you think Stevenage needs events like this then tell your friends, tell your local Councillors, tell everyone! And, of course, come to as many Festival events in the Gordon Craig Theatre as you can - any money we make gets ploughed back into things like RITP and better events.

Bands and artists on the stages

Main Stage (aqua) - Acoustic Stage (yellow)

12:00		Black Squirrels Band - Facebook - Soundcloud
	Black Squirrels Band are a 5 Piece Rock Covers based in Baldock. Fronted by the talented Tim Bruin we aim to rock the house with high octane rock and roll powered by guitars of Steve Wilson & John Kemp and driven by the rock solid rhythm of Neal Foster on Bass and pounded into submission by the relentless drumming of the legendary Mr Paul Denoff. Did we mention we are a rock band?? Good Old 60s 70s inspired rock band???
12:40		Mel Quinn - Facebook Page - Instagram page - Soundcloud - Youtube
	Melanie describes herself as a singer/songwriter, upbeat acoustic cover artist and Bass player.
13:00		Deadbeat Bracket - Facebook - Instagram
	Deadbeat Bracket are a new up-and-coming Alternative Rock/Punk band from Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Reminiscent of the 90s Alternative scene, they blend gritty hard hitting sounds with honest, non-sugar-coated lyrics.
13:40		Blake Baker - Facebook page - X/Twitter - YouTube
	Singer/songwriter, musician & cover artist. Twitch streams & YouTube videos every week! Live music when I’m booked.
14:00		The Real McKoys - Facebook page - Instagram - Spotify
	Playing 50’s pop ballads to the 00’s, turning them into Punk rock!
14:40		Tai - Facebook page - Spotify - Instagram
	Tai continues to write strong, contemporary music with a mix of influences coming from her Jamaican heritage. Having graduated from the prestigious urban development course at London’s Tileyard, Tai has focussed on collaborating with a mix of producers, from a Grammy nominated US Atlanta based producer to a jazz/soul inspired producer working out of London’s Soho. Tai’s distinctive and evocative vocals are featured on a range of original and collaborative tracks ranging from r&b, neo-soul, house and garage. Tai’s writing skills coupled with her ability to draw attention and influence young urban audiences make her definitely one to watch.
15:00		Cian Downing - Facebook page - YouTube - Website
	Hailed for bringing “a vintage sound refreshingly up to date” by indie promoter This Feeling, singer-songwriter Cian Downing is emerging onto the British guitar music scene with his infectious energy and melodic tunes.
15:40		Jake Griffiths
	A mixed set, some of his own songs and covers.
16:00		Shades of Midnight - Facebook page - Twitter - TikTok
	50s and 60s Rock band.
16:40		TJ
	Performed mostly his own music.
17:00		Malthouse Blues Band - Facebook page - YouTube - Lemonrock
	Chicago style Electric blues with searing harp, slide guitar, lightening keys, walking bass and shuffling tub thumper!... covering Johnny Winter, SRV, Clapton, Dr Feelgood, Muddy Waters, George Thorogood, Rory Gallagher, Nine Below Zero etc...
17:40		Magenta Slipperz - Facebook - Instagram
	Cabaret Drag Singer Artiste. Actor. Solo guitarist and singer. Presenting music from across the decades and appealing to young and old alike.
18:00		The Revivals - Facebook - Lemonrock - Website
	An experienced 5-piece covers band playing the best of indie, rock, Motown and the 60's. From Oasis to Ocean Colour Scene, Beatles to The Kinks and Sam Cooke to Ray Charles, our energetic set guarantees something for everyone. Whether you want to dance, jump around or just sit back and sing-along to the hits, The Revivals will provide you with the soundtrack to a memorable night. Going strong for the last 11 years, we have played at many clubs, pubs, festivals, weddings and private functions, covering the length and breadth of Herts, Beds, Cambs and Essex.

If you want to view the 2023 set of performers then look here.

Of course these sort of events take lots of planning and organisation and special thanks go to .... Kriss Lawrence at The Practice Roomz and Geoff Caine at Stevenage Borough Council.