Music @ Beacon Festival Beacon Stage
Line up times at the bottom of the page
Four fantastic stages of music at Beacon Festival means that not only continuous music but also a great choice is available. We cater for every taste throughout the weekend. The Beacon being lit late each evening will burn bright as you watch your choice of music.
Our Headliners each night will be on the Sunset Stage
Dury Service
"Gathering together some of Wycombe finest musicians Dury Service burst into life in 2017 to to celebrate the life and rhymes of Mr Ian Dury."
Van Susans
London based alternative folk-rock outfit, Van Susans return with the new album 'Human Heat' coming early 2019!
Van Susans are renowned for creating powerful, upbeat and hook-laden songs, packed full of soaring guitars and anthemic melodies.
The new single ‘Crossroads’ is out now through their label Beatnik Geek Records. Having picked up it’s debut airplay from BBC Radio 6 Music, the band have toured extensively across the folk circuit of the UK and across Europe.
Storyteller
We have been playing for about six years with a few personnel changes.This current line up has been together for two years.We play out regularly around the Oxford area and have played a few of the Summer festivals eg:-Yoga Fest,Witney Fest,Thame Fest and Cowley Carnival.We have a You Tube video (not professional) called Oblivion(but you have to type in STORY73LLER otherwise you will be directed elsewhere.
Elemental Joe
Elemental Joe started out as an ambient/funk/rock band which wowed noughties audiences with its own brand of ‘cosmic rock’ inspired by Mahavishnu Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and many more. Now, under the continuing leadership of inspirational guitarist and founder member Nick Dutton, Elemental Joe has morphed into a colourful new outfit which amalgamates essences of rock, funk and jazz with classic and contemporary blues.
Forest of Fools
forest of fools fuse traditional instruments with funked-up, high tempo beats, charting a course into the depths of the musical unknown. Where no single tune is exactly as it seems, this is Acoustic Dance Music but not as we know it!
In the blink of an eye, you’ll be whisked from the courtyards of Medieval England, to an underground warehouse party. 180 BPM D&B and Jungle Drum sections masterfully interlaced with African Percussion set the tempo for a high-energy supernova of effects-laden trance-folk Melodeon and psychedelic Lead Guitar. Harmonious funk-laced Bass Guitar sits alongside didge-inspired, multi-phonic Sousaphone Brass to create a sub-bass frenzy with serious groove. The resulting composition is as ground-breaking as it is sonically beautiful; a true musical odyssey for the 21st Century.
Head for the dance floor, you’re in for one hell of a ride!
2 Strokes
The 2 Strokes are an Oxfordshire based 3 piece, Brandon Colman on guitar and vocals, Simon Cater on
drums & Dave Lewis on bass. Their energetic live set of original material, guitar driven rock and blues and
a few well chosen covers that display their musical influences continues to please their growing fan base.
Brandon began writing songs as soon as he picked up his first guitar, honing his skills with stints in covers
bands, a degree at music school in Brighton and individual sets in pubs and clubs.
Dave picked up the bass guitar for fun as a teenager when his brother formed a band with friends and couldn’t
find a bassist, things quickly became serious when his brother came home and cheerfully announced he’d got
them a gig in 3 weeks time. He then joined a local ska band, ‘The Skarabs’, supporting Bad Manners when they
played Friars in the civic centre Aylesbury.
The Soul Destroyers
More of a tribe than a band, the mighty Soul Destroyers have been playing their mix of cheese tinged, horn driven soul since Adam was a lad – the line up has come and gone, some have drifted into the sunset, some have died, and some have (genuinely), during their reign as “Best Party Band in Bristol” (Bristol Evening Post/Venue Magazine), been born, grown up and then joined the band!
A 13 piece line up, with 6 awesome horns, 3 singers and a rock solid rhythm section it is an unnatural phenomenon of truly awe-inspiring musical power.
Meg Lawrenson Band
Meg Lawrenson is a singer-songwriter who grew up in Southampton and is now based in Brighton,
signed to BFS Records in November 2018 after the release of her debut EP.
Meg is filled with raw talents and through this has created her own unique sound which intertwines
Country Pop melodies with intimate, heartfelt and fearless lyrics; complimented with a sweet, soul-
stirring vocal line.
Her songwriting was described as “Engaging and emotive songwriting. Catchy whilst also being
believable and heartfelt. An exciting new pop country artist to look out for!” by Meghann Loney of
Wildwood Kin.
Though she is Powerfully voiced, Meg sings of delicate issues that are often the things left unsaid.
Taking inspiration from artists, such as Carrie Underwood, Raelynn and early Taylor Swift. She is
embarking on her next steps on her career, completing her University Degree in Songwriting, and
has just released her new single.
Arkensaw Jukebox
They are covers Jim, but not as we know them! Sex Pistols on a banjo? Radiohead as a waltz? A Bluegrass Stormzy?! Has the world gone mad...? Fear not dear reader it’s just the legendary Arkansaw Jukebox Collective - playing covers just like god intended... bluegrass style!
Pete Brown and the Cuxham Ukulele Band
Pete Brown heads up Cuxham Ukulele Players who, as the name suggests, are all local folk that have been learning with Pete for the last couple of years.
For nearly thirty-five years Pete has worked with many top producers and major artists – from Sade to Dusty Springfield, the Specials, Status Quo, Deep Purple, Courtney Pine, Nick Lowe, Gary Booker, David Gilmour, Marc Almond, the Smiths, even George Harrison, plus his dad and sister Sam. His virtuosity on electric, acoustic and slide guitars plus mandolin and ukulele is widely admired.
Pete also tours with The NewGrass Cutters who play in bluegrass style – but they do highly original versions of some of the best-known rock and pop songs from the last fifty years.
RushKeeper
RUSHKEEPER are in the middle of a European tour playing festivals in Belgium & Ireland having already taken their festival dance sounds all over Britain, the continent and USA.
This year at Beacon they will be joined by on stage by local heros DRUMCLUB (who have appeared at Madejski Stadium & national television) to bring a massive stomp to the end of their set.
Releasing an album last year and getting an increasing festival following Rushkeeper will be looking forward to dancing the afternoon away with you at Beacon this year.
Rock Choir
Rock Choir is the pioneering contemporary choir of the UK. It is much more than a choir, it’s a multi layered singing experience. The power of music, meeting new friends and performing at life changing events, together contribute to an emotional and powerful journey for our members. At an individual level, it helps improve people's self-confidence, enables them to develop new singing skills, and enjoy a dynamic new social life. Singing together and achieving such a great sound gives members a huge sense of fulfilment.
With no audition and no need to read music Rock Choir has already attracted nearly 30,000 members nationwide and is recognised as an award-winning national brand. It is considered to be responsible for creating a cultural musical movement offering a unique and glamorous alternative to the traditional choir format. Rock Choir's uplifting ethos of fun, friendship and community spirit is a huge part of its attraction and its inclusive and accessible teaching approach allows anyone who simply loves pop-music to take part.
Justine Hartbeats
Hartbeats Vitae Drummers are a community drumming group who play West African rhythms on djembe and dundun drums. The members all attend Justine Hart's Hartbeatsclasses in High Wycombe and Wendover. The group started in 1998 and over recent years dance has been added to their performances which is seen at local events such as Frogfest in High Wycombe. There is always space for new drummers and dancers. For more information on how to join or to book Hartbeats for a workshop please see www.hartbeats.co.uk