Featured Articles

KEMP announces free KEMPfest shuttle bus and goes back to the 80s

KEMPfest Shuttle Bus

Kidderminster based KEMP Hospice have announced two new additions to their golden anniversary charity music festival this summer, both of which are both guaranteed to please the crowds.

KEMPfest is a family-friendly music festival that will take place on Sunday 18th August at Shed Food & Drink Festival Site, Crossway Green near Stourport. The event, to mark the 50th anniversary of the charity already has a star-studded line-up including live performances from chart-toppers Max George formerly of the band The Wanted, Fuzzbox and Sweet Female Attitude and now organisers have announced a free shuttle bus for festivalgoers as well as a trip back in time.

KEMP are being supported by Stourport based transport company Coniston Coaches, who have donated free shuttle bus transport for people that don’t want to drive to music festival, and have selected pick up points that are easy for people to walk to. Keith Taylor of Coniston said that is something they were proud to do: “We get a lot of requests to help different organisations and get involved with various events but we only do it for those that we believe to be truly worthwhile. We know how important the work of KEMP Hospice is locally to the people of the Wyre Forest district, you never know when you might need them, so we simply couldn’t say no.”

Already sharing the stage with KEMPfest’s headline acts are home-grown talent such as The Institutions, Meg Shaw, Secret Cabaret, Chloe Mogg, Queen With Two Heads and Kev from Kidderminster cult band The Murmur, organisers are now hoping that people who wanted to see a retro twist to the event will be pleased at the addition of Worcestershire band Iconic 80s. The band have been voted the best 80s cover band in the UK and their repertoire includes A-ha, Erasure, Depeche Mode, Madness, Queen, Wham!, The Clash, Yazoo, Spandau Ballet, Elton John and Duran Duran.

The news that KEMPfest was going back to the 80s was music to the ears of staff and volunteers at KEMP Hospice who dedicated a day this week to dressing up in outfits inspired by the decade for patients and visitors to their Mason Road home.

KEMPfest organiser Shelley Stanley said she hoped people would take them up on their Money For Nothing offer of a free shuttle bus and, like Van Halen, would Jump at the chance at going back to the 80s: “We already have a fantastic music line-up for KEMPfest but to add some Iconic 80s to the main stage too is ace. Everyone has a favourite song from that era and we loved dressing up at KEMP this week for our patients and listening to songs from that decade – we all definitely have favourites that we want the band to play on the day itself. I encourage everyone to buy their tickets and to support KEMP in our golden anniversary year, every ticket sold will help local people who need our help, and thanks to the incredible generosity of Coniston Coaches, we can even provide some free transport.”

Shelley said coaches would pick up from key points locally and drop off at KEMPfest as well offering return trips: “We want people to be able to come along and enjoy themselves and for those that don’t want to drive we’ve selected some locations to catch the shuttle bus that are fairly easy to walk to. The coaches will pick up from existing bus stops at Vale Road in Stourport, opposite Costa Coffee on Crossley Retail Park in Kidderminster and also from Chester Road South near the viaduct. The free shuttle bus will run from around 11.30am on Sunday 18th August and will drop off at KEMPfest. People can also return to those points from the event, alternatively there will be ample car parking at KEMPfest too. It’s going to be a great day out for the whole family! Imagine everyone coming together from across the Wyre Forest district to enjoy incredible live performances by some amazing acts and guest hosts from radio and TV, having a laugh at our comedy tent and enjoying great festival food or watching future festival stars on our young talent stage. We’re even going to have an area for people to ‘have a go at performing’ live or taking penalty shots with Kidderminster Harriers, they’ll be able to do some festival shopping or sample the real ale tent – and the best part is knowing that everything is in aid of a great cause, celebrating KEMP Hospice’s golden year. We can’t wait for KEMPfest!”

KEMPfest will take place at SHED Food & Drink at Crossway Green on Sunday 18th August between 12noon and 10pm. Tickets are on sale via KEMP Hospice’s website: www.kemphospice.org.uk/kempfest and are also available from KEMP’s reception on Mason Road, all of KEMP Hospice’s shops, SHED Food & Drink or are available at the gate on the day. Adult tickets cost £15.00, Young Adult tickets (aged 10-17years) cost £10.00, children under 10 are free, a KEMPfest Family Pass (2 Adults, 2 Young Adults) costs £40.00, parking is £5.00 per vehicle and all money raised will go towards KEMP Hospice, helping to provide free-of-charge specialist care and support to people across the Wyre Forest who are dealing with life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Spread the good news!