The Phoenix Festival was set up by John Vincent Power[1] of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals. It was held at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon and was one of the first four-day festivals in Britain.

History

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The first year of the festival (1993) featured headline performances by Sonic Youth, Hole, Faith No More and The Black Crowes, and included other notable acts such as Manic Street Preachers, Julian Cope, The Young Gods and House of Pain. However, the event was marred by controversy. Travelers refused free entry, blocked the entrance meaning many spent their Friday night in their vehicles in long queues. Festival goers were made to put out camp fires and turn off sound systems at midnight. These rules were in contrast to the 24-hour culture of the Glastonbury Festival, with which many of those present at Phoenix were familiar. There were even demands for refunds, and the festival's reputation was marred from the outset. The enforcement of these rules by security staff led to many of the festival goers showing their displeasure in no uncertain terms. Fencing and light rigs were toppled, fires set and physical clashes between festival goers and security staff also occurred.

The festival never really recovered from its poor reception, and although it attracted consistently popular acts, festival goers were less than happy with the site (an old airstrip) and there were also complaints about the prices on site. Such were the problems with security that when the Big Top managed by experimental theatre company 'Dancin Dog' was three times over capacity no staff were available to remedy the situation leading to fights between performers and audience and artists unable to leave the stage resulting in crowds demanding more for several hours and performers continuing until they collapsed from exhaustion and in fear for their lives.

Problems with the event reached a climax in 1996 when many festival goers missed David Bowie on the Thursday night due to problems letting people on site. Having sold out that year for the first time, due to the Glastonbury Festival taking its usual year off (once in every five years in a cycle), the organisers struggled to cope with the crowds and extreme heat. Temperatures on site exceeded thirty degrees Celsius on all days. The weekend was further marred with problems with water being unavailable in parts of the site. The event was notable for the fact that the Sex Pistols headlined their first major UK festival that weekend.

The festival continued for one more year but could never compete with its main rival, the Glastonbury Festival. The 1998 Phoenix event was cancelled due to poor ticket sales,[2] but some acts were moved to that year's Reading Festival.

In July 2011, Vince Power announced his intention to resurrect the festival in his introduction to the programme of the Hop Farm Festival. Power wrote: "For those of you who remember the Phoenix Festival, it's my intention to resurrect this festival next year as Glastonbury is taking a break."

Line ups

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1993

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The 1993 Phoenix was held from 16 to 18 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Phoenix Stage
Friday Saturday Sunday

Sonic Youth
Julian Cope
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
Parliament-Funkadelic (No Show - House Of Pain played this slot)
Hole
The Fatima Mansions
The God Machine
Jacob's Mouse

Faith No More
House of Pain
The Young Gods
Björn Again
Fun-Da-Mental
Consolidated
That Petrol Emotion
New Fast Automatic Daffodils
Silverfish
Die Cheerleader

The Black Crowes
Pop Will Eat Itself
Living Colour
Manic Street Preachers
Yothu Yindi
Helmet
Mercury Rev
Bad Religion
Hyperhead
CNN

Zine Stage
Friday Saturday Sunday

The Buzzcocks
The Family Cat
Pulp
The Funking Barstewards
Eat
The Pooh Sticks
The Hair and Skin Trading Company
Energy Orchard
Ringo

Billy Bragg
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Martin Stephenson
Red Devils
Trash Can Sinatras
The Fat Lady Sings
Pele
The Tansads
Velocity Girl
Nervous

The Wedding Present
Thousand Yard Stare
Los Lobos
Ian McNabb
A House
Rainer
Kinky Machine
Molly Half Head
The New Cranes

Jazzterrania Stage
Friday Saturday Sunday

James Taylor Quartet
Courtney Pine
The Pharcyde
Mother Earth
Jason Rebello
Vibe Tribe

Gil Scott-Heron And The Amnesia Express
Jamiroquai
The Sandals
Corduroy
Keziah Jones
Cypress Hill
John Coltrane Tribute

Gangstarr Quartet with Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers
Steve Williamson's That Fuss Was Us
Jazz Jamaica
Urban Species
Snowboy & The Latin Section
Secret Society

Lime Lizard Stage
Friday Saturday Sunday

Utah Saints
Eugenius
Redd Kross
The Moonflowers
Sloan
Band Of Susans
St. Johnny
Sidi Bou Said

Back To The Planet
Dr. Phibes and the House of Wax Equations
Cardiacs
Th' Faith Healers
Senser
Mint 400
Skyscraper
Collapsed Lung
Compulsion

Sheep On Drugs
The Rockingbirds
Stereolab
Matthew Sweet
Bivouac
Cornershop
Credit to the Nation
Strangelove
Radial Spangle
Fretblanket

1994

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The 1994 Phoenix was held from 14 to 17 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Phoenix Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

stage closed

The Wonder Stuff
Carter USM
The Fall
Squeeze
The Posies
Jah Wobble
The Goats
Fun-Da-Mental
Whiteout

Paul Weller
Pop Will Eat Itself
Ozric Tentacles
Crash Test Dummies
Gil Scott-Heron
Senseless Things
Urban Dance Squad
The Sandals
Baby Chaos
The Red Devils

Iggy Pop
Therapy?
Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Killing Joke
Buzzcocks
Magnapop
The Family Cat
NOFX
Blaggers ITA

Vox Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Gary Clail On U Sound System
Bim Sherman
Little Axe
Adrian Sherwood

The Pogues
John Cale
Kirsty MacColl
Tom Robinson
The Trash Can Sinatras
David Gray
The Coalporters
Ben Harper

The Beautiful South
The Blue Aeroplanes
Terry Hall
The Divine Comedy
Eddi Reader
The Bible
My Life Story
Marion Cast
Thrum

Inspiral Carpets
Renegade Soundwave
A House
Mother Earth
The Grid
Beat Traders
A Certain Ratio
Suns of Arqa
Youthu Yindi
Terry Edwards
Baby Chaos

Melody Maker Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Dodgy
Astralasia

T.Rextasy
Land Of Barbara
Head

Spiritualized
Stereolab
Bark Psychosis
Moonshake
Golden Claw
Radial Spangle
ROC
Drugstore
Puppy Love Bomb
Skunk Anansie

Back To The Planet
Swervedriver
Mega City Four
These Animal Men
Voodoo Queens
Gunshot
The Muddie Funksters
Dub War
Rub Ultra
Done Lying Down
Tribute To Nothing

Shellac
Girls Against Boys
Brick Layer Cake
The Raincoats
The Pastels
Bailterspace
Tsunami
Mambo Taxi
AC Acoustics

Jazzterania Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Incognito
Urban Species
Raw Stylus
Ian & Rob

Donald Byrd
Courtney Pine
Greg Osby
Freakpower
Ian & Rob

Galliano
Snowboy
Fishbelly Black
Vibe Tribe

Herbie Hancock
Roy Ayers
Corduroy
D*Note
Jhelisa

Loaded Comedy Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Frank Sidebottom
John Shuttleworth
Kevin Day
Ian Cognito
Phil Kay
Martin Coyote
Mike Hayley
Andre Vincent
Ardal O'Hanlon

Mark Thomas
Jeff Green
Rubber Bishops
Man with Beard
Sean Connery Brotherhood
Alistair MacGowan
Dave Spikey

Lee Evans
Mark Steel
Mark Hurst
Lee Hurst
Linda Smith
Dominic Holland
Hattie Hayridge

Eddie Izzard
Richard Moton
Attila the Stockbroker
Sean Meo
Simon Bligh
Fred MacAulay
Paul Tonkinson
John Moloney
Rhona Cameron

1995

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The 1995 Phoenix was held from 13 to 16 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon. [3][4]

Phoenix Stage (host & DJ: Jo Whiley)
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

stage closed

Suede
Bob Dylan
Tricky
Van Morrison
The Fall
The Wedding Present
Chumbawamba
Salad
Velvet Crush

Faith No More
Public Enemy
Terrorvision
Paradise Lost
Body Count
Ice-T
EMF
Senseless Things (no-show)
Gallon Drunk
Shootyz Groove
Pitchshifter

Paul Weller
Brand New Heavies
Warren G (no-show)
George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
The Charlatans
Underworld
Spearhead
Credit to the Nation
Marion

Melody Maker Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Bootsy Collins
Prophets of Da City

Aztec Camera
Edwyn Collins

Spiritualized Electric Mainline
The Verve
The High Llamas (replaced Nitzer Ebb)
Man or Astroman?
AC Acoustics
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci

The Wildhearts (no-show)
Biohazard
Dog Eat Dog
Honeycrack
Shudder to Think
Joyrider
Schtum

Kiss 100 Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Gil Scott-Heron

Galliano
Normski

Guru's Jazzmatazz
MC 900 Ft. Jesus

James Taylor Quartet
Jessica Lauren

Megadog Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

The Orb

Underworld
The Chemical Brothers

Eat Static
Conemelt

Trans-Global Underground
African Headcharge

Comedy Tent
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Lily Savage

Lee Evans
John Otway

Mark Lamarr

Frank Sidebottom

1996

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The 1996 Phoenix Festival was held from 18 to 21 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.[5]

Phoenix Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

David Bowie
The Prodigy
Gene
Frank Black
Placebo
Kenickie

Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Alanis Morissette
Manic Street Preachers
Foo Fighters
Dodgy
The Wildhearts
Beck
The Flaming Lips
Ian McNabb
Fun Lovin' Criminals

Björk
Massive Attack
Cypress Hill
Skunk Anansie
Stereolab
Genius/GZA
The Wannadies
Guru's Jazzmatazz
Ruby
Cecil

Sex Pistols
Terrorvision
Echobelly
The Fall
Marion
Coolio
The Cardigans
Drugstore
Honeycrack
Linoleum

Guardian Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Cocteau Twins
Strangelove
The Young Gods
The Aloof
The Dirty Three
Earl Brutus

Lush
G Love & Special Sauce
Bis
Baby Bird
Super Furry Animals
Jonathan Richman
Barenaked Ladies
Dr. Robert
Rare
Perfume
Elcka
Agent Provocateur
Nervous

Shed Seven
Grant Lee Buffalo
Heavy Stereo
60ft Dolls
Catatonia
Audioweb
No Way Sis
Collapsed Lung
New Kingdom
Scheer
Revelino
Soda

Reef
Longpigs
Compulsion
Dub War
Senser
Kerbdog
Holy Barbarians
Baby Chaos
Send No Flowers
Smaller
Joyrider
3 Colours Red

Megadog Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Leftfield
Banco de Gaia
Zion Train
Asian Dub Foundation

Carl Cox
The Prodigy
CJ Bolland
System 7
Hardfloor
Darren Emerson
Earth Nation
Outer Active
Alabama 3
J Pac

Grooverider
Goldie
Fabio
Lionrock
Red Snapper
LTJ Bukem
Spring Heel Jack
Baby D
Nicolette
Andrew Weatherall
Lamb

Ingrid Schroeder
The Chemical Brothers
Spooky
William Orbit
Slab
The Aloof
James Lavelle
Interact

Jazz Café Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Incognito
Courtney Pine
Raw Stylus
Earthling
Big Cheese All Stars

Guru's Jazzmatazz
Corduroy
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Nightmares on Wax
Weldon Irvine
Snowboy & The Latin Section
Smith & Mighty
The Brotherhood

Us3
Moloko
Mother Earth
Jazz Passengers feat. Debbie Harry
Terry Callier
Dee C Lee
Jazz Co Tech Dancers
Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers
Eusebe

James Taylor Quartet
The Pharcyde
Ben Harper
Me'shell
The Specials
Maxwell
Monday Michiru
Attica Blues

1997

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The 1997 Phoenix Festival was held from 17 to 20 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.[6] "David Bowie requested some odd items on his Phoenix rider but came close to not getting a few," recalled promoter Neil Pengelly. "An urgent, eleventh-hour delivery of his bullworker and carrot juicer required a dash through the arena in a golf cart – not a problem until a plucky punter nicked the cart from under the nose of the briefly distracted driver. A Benny Hill-style chase ended when the man dumped the cart and ran off into the crowd. Adding insult to injury, three girls spotted the key still in the cart and ram-raided the cigarette stall."[7]

Main Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Black Grape
Skunk Anansie
Fun Lovin' Criminals
De La Soul
Asian Dub Foundation

The Charlatans
The Lightning Seeds
Shed Seven
Teenage Fanclub
The Wannadies
Beth Orton
Morcheeba
Hurricane#1
Sussed

Jamiroquai
Gabrielle
US3
ABC
Olive
Lamb
Corduroy
The Prisoners
Groove Connection

David Bowie
Orbital
Texas
Faith No More
Billy Bragg
3 Colours Red
Catatonia
Apollo 440
Arkarna

Guardian Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Spiritualized
Strangelove
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Madder Rose
Soul Coughing
Warm Jets

Rollins Band
Republica
Lionrock
Embrace
Travis
Lo Fidelity Allstars
Gold Blade
Smaller
Broadcast
Mogwai
Midget
Libido

Aphex Twin
Sneaker Pimps
60ft Dolls
Subcircus
Laika
The Candyskins
David Devant & His Spirit Wife
Linoleum
Stereophonics
One Inch Punch
Jolt

Sinéad O'Connor
Shane MacGowan
My Life Story
Drugstore
Luna
Urusei Yatsura
18 Wheeler
Arnold
Mantaray
Baby Fox
London Community Gospel Choir

Mean Fiddler Stage
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

The Specials
Afro-Celt Sound System
Bhundu Boys
The Radiators
Otis, Ed & Ben

Red House Painters
Link Wray
Edward Ball
Nervous
Elliot Green
Coade
Garageland
White Buffalo
Dream City Film Club
The Candidates
The Hitchers
Sintra
Hank Dogs
Hugger Mugger

Gallon Drunk
AC Acoustics
Dr Robert
Dharmas
Gretschen Hofner
The Diggers
The Smiles
The Kaisers
Simon Warner
My Friend The Chocolate Cake
Comfort
Dakota Suite
The Hormones
Pregnant

The Saw Doctors
Transglobal Underground
Moodswings
Dr Didg
Sirenes
Rev Hammer
Sara Sara
Mary Coughlan
Duncan Sheik
Jel
Loot Competition Winner
Baby On Board

References

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  1. ^ "Mr John Vincent Power - Director at Croftedge Limited". Duedil.com. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Entertainment | Phoenix called off due to poor ticket sales". BBC News. 10 June 1998. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  3. ^ "phoenix95nd3". imageshack.us. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ "rage Magazine Archive Pages - Issue 5 - Phoenix festival review". Ragemagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  5. ^ Hodgson, Chris (7 September 2012). "World In A Bottle: Blast from the past : Phoenix Festival 1996". Corben-dallas.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Music festivals; Your definitive guide to summer 1997". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Festivals of '97". Q #137. February 1998. p. 98.
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