Stars of food and music come together for debut festival glittering bill at weekend festival

WE may be well into September, but there is one more music festival to get stuck into before confining yourself to gloomy clubs and the sticky-floored backrooms of pubs.

A new event, it takes place this Saturday and Sunday on the lovely expanse of Blackheath in South East London. And it calls itself, quite reasonably, OnBlackheath.

Organisers describe it as “a brand new music festival with a difference” - with an eclectic music line-up backed by immersive food experience, a farmers market and children’s activities.

Saturday’s Music comes from trip-hop legends Massive Attack - who curate the main stage.

Sounds also come courtesy of special guest Grace Jones, Aloe Blacc, Young Fathers and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard.

A second stage which will be hosted by radio DJ Gilles Peterson and features BadBadNotGood, Hiatus Kaiyote, Anushka, Swindle (live), Zara McFarlane, Ibibio Sound Machine and DJ sets from Thris Tian (Boiler Room, Bradley Zero and Giles himself.

Sunday sees music from punk folk rocker Frank Tuner with support from Imelda May, Levellers, Athlete, Slowclub and Tom Hickcox.

Independent label Heavenly Recordings will curate the second ‘Heavenly & Friends’ stage, with a set by stars of last weekend’s Bestival, Radiophonic Workshop, who are joined by TOY, Stealing Sheep, Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs, The Wytches, Kid Wave, Steve Mason and Jagwar Ma.

DJ sets will come from Don Letts, Heavenly Jukebox and Dave McClean (Django Django).

A Village Stage will featuring The Chris Holland All-Star Band and special guests including Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, The Hi-Fi Sneakers and The Rude Vandals.

The combination of music and good food will be familiar to anyone who enjoyed the Big Feastival at Alex james’s farm in Kingham a couple of weekends ago.

Like that event, an impressive list of British chefs will demonstrate their skills and talents at the festival’s Chef’s Club - hosted by Gizzi Erskine - and Food Stage (hosted by TV Chef John Quilter aka the Food Busker).

Oxford Mail:

Heath heroes: Massive Attack

Appearing are Michelin-starred chefs Richard Bainbridge (Morston Hall), Simon Hulstone (The Elephant) and Adam Simmonds.

Also expect to see Jack Stein (executive chef of Stein Restaurant), Neil Rankin (Smokehouse), TV chef Valentine Warner, Punk chef Carl Clarke (Rock Lobsta), the Meringue Girls and Australia’s Ross Shonhan (Bone Daddies/Flesh and Buns) Music and food aside, there will be interactive fun, games, workshops, entertainment and activities for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Highlights include the chance to learn hoola hooping, clowning from The Flying Seagull Project and a village fete with sack races, egg and spoon races and a tug-o-war. Then there’ll be a silent disco, street & fringe theatre, swing dance classes, graffiti T-shirt design workshops, and for budding DJs, a chance to remix Massive Attack tracks and learn beat-boxing.

An organiser said: “There’s definitely something to put a smile on everyone’s face!”

Oxford Mail:

Special guest: Grace Jones

Ticket information:

  • Adult Day Ticket - £57.50
  • Adult Two-Day Weekend Ticket - £99.00
  • Under 16s Day Ticket - £35.00
  • Under 16s Two-Day Weekend Ticket - £60.00
  • Under fives – FREE (Saturday)
  • Under 12s – FREE (Sunday ONLY)