Rhythm Festival 2011 seeks new home

Rhythm Festival has announced that next year's event will not be held at it's usual home of Twinwood Arena, Clapham, in Bedfordshire.

Following events after last year's bad weather, it has become impractical for both the Rhythm Festival and the venue's own Glenn Miller themed Twinwood Festival to be held at Twinwood Arena where the jazz musician and composer's plane departed never to be seen again. Rhythm Festival is now seeking a new home with a view to also moving to it's original date at the beginning, rather than the end, of August.

The festival's official website, (here) has the following statement by festival organiser Jim Driver:

"Rhythm Festival 2011 will NOT be held at Twinwood Arena, Clapham

Although I'm still on good terms with site owner David Wooding and his family, they have decided that it is not practical for us to hold Rhythm Festival at Twinwood Arena before their own Twinwood Festival, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

This is because the rain that started at Rhythm Festival on the Sunday evening intensified and carried on for over a week and the bashing the ground got from us (especially in the Main Arena and entrance to Buena Vista campsite) meant that Twinwood Events had to spend loads of money (and I mean loads of money) laying tracks and draining land but to no avail. It was like a mud-bath and they can't risk the same happening again.

BUT THIS IS NOT A DISASTER!

What I first perceived as a major problem is actually a fantastic new opportunity. This is a chance to start again and make Rhythm Festival even better. Although availability is a key factor, I also want to try and return to our original weekend and move Rhythm Festival back to the weekend of August 5-7. This means we won't clash with Beautiful Days and The Green Man Festival. That's what I'd like to do but I would stress that the dates are not finally decided on!

The first aim is to keep Rhythm Festival within easy travelling distance of Bedford.Important: it is possible that a new site will mean that prices will have to rise but I promise that anyone who has an Early Bird Weekend Ticket will not pay any extra. Early Bird Tickets will remain on sale to anyone who wants top guarantee these prices. There are currently 83 left."

The festival are therefore interested in anyone who could offer them a new home. Jim Driver revealed in press release, "The first aim is to keep Rhythm Festival within easy travelling distance of Bedford. I'm currently in contact with several site owners and I'm visiting the more promising ones starting this week. If are personally aware of any great sites - preferably with a history of holding weekend music events - you think could offer Rhythm Festival a home (with camping - often a negative factor for many people) in August, please pass on the contact details. If you own such a site, please get in touch!"

Early bird adult weekend saver tickets are priced at £95, first 500 £75, (£100 from 1st June, £110 on the gate). Weekend tickets do NOT include camping.
Infants (under 5 years) are free when accompanied by adult ticket-holders.
One child (5-16 years) is free with each adult ticketholder; additional child tickets are available priced at £50. Day tickets will be on sale from February 7th.

Any ticket-holders who already have tickets are asked to hold onto them until details of the new location are confirmed, if however anyone does require an immediate refund, they are asked to email organisers using the subject line "Rhythm Festival Refund" and giving full details of their order.

To buy tickets, click here.

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