Whilst most of us are still recovering from the excesses of the festive season and sheltering from the wet and cold, the organisers of the Somerton Music and Arts Festival are busy planning for warmer and sunnier weather. With a full schedule of events taking place throughout Somerton, the 2022 Festival will extend to cover two weeks during July.

“We have an action packed couple of weeks in store, starting with the Art & Photography exhibition as a precursor event in May,” says Festival Chairman Cliff Bassett. “We are delighted to welcome back so many local artists and provide an opportunity for them to exhibit their work as part of the Festival.”

The Festival includes a full range of events taking place throughout Somerton, culminating on 9th July with Somerstock, Somerton’s own family-friendly, one-day music festival. “We are proud to have the Hoosiers headlining Somerstock as part of their latest tour,” continues Bassett. “It really puts us on the map!”

The organisers are also keen to recruit volunteers to help with stewarding at Somerstock as well as new members to join their team to help promote the festival – particularly generating more social media activity. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to get involved with a local event, support the community and join a friendly team working with some great acts,” explains Bassett.

Anybody interested in getting involved should contact hello@somerstock.co.uk

Here are just a few key events and activities to look out for:

• The Somerton Art & Photography exhibition will open in the Parish Rooms on the 28th May and run until the 4th June, opening daily from 10am to 4pm (closed Sunday). Alongside the exhibition, the festival will be hosting talks and interactive workshops for all ages in the Pinney Room within the Parish Rooms throughout the week.
• Somerton Music & Arts Festival (1^st -14^th July) planning is underway with a number of events already announced, including the Bath Gilbert and Sullivan Society who will be opening the Festival, local band Not Like The Others will also be performing, the popular Festival Quiz will return as will Twisted Vinyl alongside Strictly Jive at the last event on the 14^th
• Somerstock (Saturday 9^th July) – Early Bird Tickets Available until the End Of February: Joining The Hoosiers on the outdoor stages will be Alex Lipinski who delighted festival goers in 2021, popular artist Bess Atwell, AC/DC’s Chris Slade with a timeline of his music, Ska from the Decatonics and high energy from Nick Parker and the False Alarms; once described as ‘A British Arcade Fire’. The festival also includes a celebration of ELO music from the Explosive Light Orchestra, reggae from the South West’s Irie Fire, folk rock from local band Kindred, the eclectic and atmospheric Shoun Shoun and the fabulous Young Martyrs, who will open the show.
• The Family Fun Day, now part of the Somerstock weekend, will take place at the Somerton Recreation Ground on Sunday 10th June.

Early Bird tickets for Somerstock will only be available until the end of Febauray. To take advantage of the Early Bird discount before it ends, go to www.somerstock.co.uk/tickets or find out more about the volunteering opportunities at Somerstock, go to www.somertsock.co.uk/join-us

Our charity partner for 2022 is the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, a registered charity established to provide relief from sickness and injury for the people of Dorset and Somerset by the provision of an air ambulance service, with an air and road-delivered critical care capability. The organisation receives no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery and relies on the generosity of the public for support. Their operational costs are over £5 million a year and the approximate cost per mission is £3,000.

Since their launch in 2000 they have flown thousands of missions. They are tasked as part of the normal ‘999’ emergency process by a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) desk located at Ambulance Control (paid for by the South West Air Ambulance Charities) and can attend up to eight or nine incidents in a single day.

Their airbase is situated at Henstridge Airfield on the Dorset/Somerset border. From there, they can be at any point in the two counties in less than 20 minutes. More importantly, the helicopter can, if required, then take a patient to the nearest major trauma centre in the South West within a further 20 minutes.

Find out more at www.dsairambulance.org.uk

The Hoosiers are to headline Somerstock in 2022. An English pop rock band formed in Indianapolis, The Hoosiers consist of members Irwin Sparkes (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Alan Sharland (drums, percussion, vocals).