Over the next six weeks we’ll be mentioning the Boscombe Community Fair more than once. If the weather is kind this year’s event looks like being something very special, featuring (with very few exceptions) the cream of our local talent as well as some carefully selected festival favourites. Most importantly, this is a community based organisation and not-for-profit. These events take a huge amount of planning and do not come without accruing costs, so the small entry fee is more than worth it looking at what the weekend has in store. Thanks to Bert Burnell for sending in this press release…

From tiny acorns great oak trees grow… Boscombe Community Fair was set up in 1995 (with the first event in 1996) as a response to the negative press that Boscombe was receiving. Organised by a group of local musicians and artists the plan was to showcase local talent and support local groups. Set up by the community for the community, Boscombe Community Fair (BCF) is truly a local event for local people and not aimed at the tourist industry, it is also a not for profit organisation, run entirely by volunteers. Yes, it’s true, not for tourists, not for profit and run purely on the blood, sweat and tears of the volunteers. Over the years BCF has grown and evolved, originally a one day event with one main music stage and “hippies on blankets” (a term affectionately used by the organisers), it is now a weekend event running from the Friday evening to the Sunday evening.

Now on their fifteenth event, BCF has a lot to offer: a great kids area (being run by Creative Kids), an arena area with a wide range of events from dance performances to the famous fun dog show, and a healing area offering tasters in many different therapies. Our unique art gallery ‘Boscombe Community Arts Space’ will once again be there and our Acoustic tent will be there, including open mike slots, bring your instruments and join in! In addition BCF has a variety of stalls, including local charities and information stalls and a bargain bar.

Housed in two marquees are the stages, which provide the soundtrack to the weekend. For a relatively small event the quality of musicianship is second to none. Across the weekend you will find bands ranging from local youth acts to international touring bands.

Outstanding eight piece funk-soul-dub upstarts, King Porter Stomp will top the bill on the Friday night. They will play Boscombe as part of their summer festival tour which has included shows at Glastonbury, Shambala, Larmer Tree, Secret Garden Party and The Big Chill to name but a few. On Saturday we are very glad to see the return of the Dreadzone Soundsystem, with a major UK tour looming in November, Greg Dread and Mc Spee bring their own brand of Dub Dance to Kings Park. Rounding off the weekend on Sunday are local ragamuffins, the kings of cowpunk, Pronghorn!

These acts join a bill which includes Dorset Music Award winners The Longest Day, reggae favourites Dubheart and many more including The Neon Tigers, Sirpico, Subsource, The Guns of Navarone, Skinny Skulls and Mutant Vinyl.

All in all it looks set to be a great weekend of music, run by the local community, for the local community.

Boscombe Community Fair
10-12th September 2010 – Kings Park, Bournemouth
Friday 6pm-11pm | Saturday Midday-11pm | Sunday Midday – 8pm
£5 entry per day | £2 14-16 year olds and OAPs | £10 weekend ticket (must be bought on Friday)

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