CHILFEST 8th July 2017

If chilling out to a fantastic soundtrack from the 70s and 80s gets you in the groove, then you'll love our annual festival.
Chilfest is renowned for its great acts, party atmosphere and unforgettable memories, all staged in the leafy surroundings of Tring, Hertfordshire.
Taking place this year on Saturday 8th July, music-lovers can enjoy a host of top live acts including Alexander O'Neal, Hot Chocolate, Soul II Soul, Midge Ure, Heaven 17, The Real Thing and Mari Wilson.
With (INSERT NAME) headlining, our intimate but lively summer festival looks on track to be yet another hot favourite.

NEW FOR 2017

For the first time in its history, Chilfest will be staged on one day only but promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Thanks to the generosity of the landowner, the festival site will be increased by over 4,000 square metres.
Not only will there be more space for picnics, food outlets and toilets, but there will also be more artists on the bill and an 80s silent disco.
Keen to eliminate long queues, Chilfest founder Steve Butcher has introduced two main entrances and exits to the festival site, and a fast track entrance for people without picnics and chairs.
There will also an increased army of car park marshals at the end of the evening to ensure a smooth and controlled exit.

WHAT IS CHILFEST?

Its history - 4 years 50 artistes 40,000 attendees £30,000 raised for charity

The numbers speak for themselves – in just four years, Chilfest has been taken to the hearts of thousands of music fans.
Set in the idyllic Chiltern Hills, the festival has grown in popularity year on year.
From original kids of the 70s and 80s to a younger generation of fans, a staggering 40,000 people have enjoyed our distinctive boutique festival experience.
A galaxy of music stars have graced our custom-built Chilfest arena, including The Human League, UB40, Sister Sledge, Tony Hadley, Rick Astley, Big Country, Boney M and Billy Ocean, to name but a few.
Chilfest, the brainchild of Tring businessman Steve Butcher, has also raised an incredible £30,000 for charity, demonstrating the positive power of music.

CHILFEST 2016

We may not have got very far in the Euro championships this year, but the Chilfest crowd took a leaf from the Icelandic football fans to show their support of 80s music.

As they called for an encore from both the Human League and UB40, the fans mimicked the now famous Icelandic thunderclap chant in raucous appreciation of the popular bands. In fact there was a huge amount of team spirit throughout the entire festival as the crowd was able to enjoy a host of sporting anthems from Tony Hadley's Gold to Heather Small's Proud.

There was even a blast of the old wartime British spirit as Rockney legends Chas and Dave launched into a medley of old-time songs like Roll Out The Barrel. Their classics like Rabbit, Ain't No Pleasing You and London Girl got the crowd linking arms, while Snooker Loopy re-ignited the 80s fascination with snooker.

Friday night saw the festival open with the heartwarming sunshine songs of Aswad, bringing a smile to everyone's faces with hits like Don't Turn Around and Shine. Their infectious brand of reggae sounded perfect on the sunny summer evening.

M-People's Heather Small certainly made her family Proud when she next took to the stage, with her 74-year-old mum in the front row dancing throughout. Heather told Chilfest: “I did have a seat for her at the side of the stage but she went into the crowd at the front, and was dancing the entire time. That's the stock I come from!” With a host of songs like Search For a Hero, Moving on Up and One Night in Heaven, the stunning singer took the festival on a tour of her M People and solo career.

The incredible UB40 ended the night on a high note with a nostalgic line-up of their unforgettable hits, even inspiring one romantic lad to propose to his girlfriend during Kingston Town. Thanks to Ali Campbell reuniting with Mickey and Astro, we were treated to Astro's legendary rap in Red Red Wine, alongside classics including Many Rivers To Cross and Food for Thought.

Brother Beyond's Nathan Moore got the early birds dancing on Saturday with his exuberant banter and classics like The Harder I Try. He was swiftly followed by Chilfest's very own Lady in Red, aka Clare Grogan of Altered Images, who performed hits like Happy Birthday and I Could Be Happy, whilst proclaiming to the crowd that she would usually be shopping at Waitrose!

The Christians brought their Liverpudian wit to the stage next, with their soulful hits like Harvest for The World and Ideal World, making a real mark on the festival.

80s synth legend Nik Kershaw and New Romantic Tony Hadley were huge hits as the evening drew in. Nik's recognisable guitar-driven hits like Wouldn't It Be Good and Don Quixote were both crowd-favourites, as was a cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity who he named as one of his idols.
Tony Hadley followed with a true gold medley of Spandau Ballet hits including Through The Barricades, True and the anthemic Gold.

Top of the bill were The Human League whose synth-fuelled 80s mega hits accelerated the festival into top gear. Wearing a long cloak, lead singer Phil Oakey had an imposing presence on the stage as the band performed classics like Don't You Want Me, Electric Dreams and Mirror Man.

The fans' raucous call for an encore summed up the passion this festival ignites for everything

View my website http://www.chilfest.co.uk/