Page 23 - link magazine

23
Swindon Wide
Lydiard's Big Weekend could see outdoor concerts return to park
In the nine year history of the BBC Big Weekend the biggest and best has taken place in Swindon.
Speaking shortly before undertaking: its a very
a stunning crescendo by steep learning curve to
The Prodigy at Lydiard Park be able to organise for
on 10 May. BBC Radio One 40.000 fans and a few
director of outside events thousand people behind
Jason Carter was full of the scenes who descend
praise for Swindon and the upon an area.
partner organisations in "I had a very good
delivering an excellent two instinct about Swindon
days of top line music. "The Council's ability to de- Molley Soley and Ellie Larkin from
weekend has exceeded liver for us. Our partner-
Grange Park enjoying Dizzy Rascal.
expectations. We've had ship with them has been
Below. Charli Roberts from The
fantastic weather and ev- excellent"
Prinnels, backstage with DJ Ironik
erything has come together Wiltshire Constabu-
The Prodigy bringing the big weekend
to make the Swindon event lary Swindon command- "It was very pleasing to hear a
to a brain shattering conclusion
the best ever. erChief Superintendent number of happy revellers thanking
"At 20.000 people per day, we've special occasion and the perform- Paul Howlett said, "the policing officers for their support as they left
had more people attending than ers have picked up the vibe; there's operation for the weekend went very Lydiard Park."
before and they have really enjoyed a lot of delight here." smoothly, with a small numberof ar- Freshbrook and Grange Park
themselves. The combination of Mr Carter complimented the rests, street cautions and a number councillor Michael Dickinson said.
artistes playing for free and fans performance by Swindon Council. of fixed penalty notices. "considering such a huge opera-
with free tickets has created a great "The aim of the Big Weekend is to ti on, I and fellow councillors had no
atmosphere. Those lucky enough bring live music to underserved complaints from local people about
to be here are treating it as a very areas and I approached several lo- the Big Weekend.
cal authorities in the Autumn Coun Phil Young, cabinet mem-
for initial discussions about ber for regeneration and culture,
working together to put on a said there could be further big
high quality event. Obviously music events at Lydiard. "We have
we need to be convinced a model of how to organise an event
that councils know how on this scale and have proved we
to cope with such a large can. I'm keen that we exploit this
for the benefit of the town: we just
Aftershowpartyat the Bombay
Lounge restaurant from a Link have to work out what the next big
recommendation to DJ Nihal. one might be."
Vernon Kaye with Caroline See more of our images at:
Collis and Marla Robbani www.swind nlink.com

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