Mark Davis, who is originally from Blackpool, has been putting on festivals in the town with his partner Nicky Chanot for more than five years, at both the Hop Farm and Colebrook Park. Last year, due to the virus, his summer calendar had to be cancelled.
Mark said: “We have spent five years working hard to cement ourselves in Tunbridge Wells and are really passionate about the community – we made sure every supplier and all the people we hired were from within a five-mile area.
“All our events are family based and designed specifically for the people here, and over the years we have felt really accepted in the town and felt real love for us and what we do, especially with the charities we support.
“When the virus hit it was just unimaginable. We had to refund a six-figure sum, but we knew if we just gave up, we’d lose everything that we have worked for.”
Now that restrictions are lifted, the promoters have lined up a raft of new festivals at Colebrook Park, including Love Forever [August 13-15], featuring the Stereo MCs and 808 State; Love Hangover [August 22], that features dozens of funk, soul and hip hop acts; plus the electronic music festival Alfresco [Aug 27-29].
Mark and Nicky are also working closely with local charities in the town and are putting on Tree of Life [August 18-19] offering artistic, creative and interactive experiences for children and their families – with all proceeds going to Nourish Community Foodbank, as well as the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Demelza children’s charity.
However, he says when the events are not on, his equipment and sound stage just sit empty.
“It is a waste, so we are giving an open invitation to anybody who wants to put on a festival or event in Tunbridge Wells in August to come use our site and equipment when we are not using them because it will just be sitting there idle.”
He said anybody wanting to raise money for good causes with an event can take advantage of their big tent, sound system and other infrastructure.
