The Futureheads to headline Chase Park Festival

Chase Park Festival 2013

Saturday 10th August 2013
Chase Park, Whickham, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE16 4QA, England MAP
£3 adult, £5 family ticket (2 adults, up to 4 kids), FREE to those with a disability (and carers)

Daily capacity: 3,000

The Futureheads have been announced as headliners for the fourth Chase Park Festival an accessible music and arts festival showcasing emerging and established North East acts happening on Saturday 10th August 2013 at Chase Park, Whickham, Gateshead, in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The festival was created by student Paul Belk who was left in a wheelchair after his drink was spiked, who aims to create an event for wheelchair users and disabled people, though he wants it to be viewed like any other festival.

Eight years ago whilst backpacking around Thailand and Laos his drink was spiked by morphine by two men who robbed him and left him in a coma in the street. Paul spent much of his rehabilitation in Chase Park Neuro Centre, and decided to host the event there.

Now in its fourth year, the event became the first outdoor festival in the Uk to receive Silver Accreditation by Attitude is Everything for being an arts event accesssible and inclusive for deaf and disabled people. Using special raised trackways the event is accessible to all and enables people to get to the stage whatever the weather, There is also a drop-off point that aids access to the stage, and to specialised mobility equipment should it be needed. This year there are also British Sign Language interpreters.

The event which hopes to attract an audience of 3,000 will also host Thumpers, Big Beat Bronson, Symphonic Pictures, Terra T, Child, Tissue Culture, Laura Smith, Natasha Haws, and Sam Fender.

Chase Park Festival, is run by healthcare and neuro-rehabilitation specialist Keiro, who secured significant funding from the Arts Council as well as being sponsored by leading injury and disability solicitors Irwin Mitchell, Gateshead Council and Pulse Healthcare. The lineup has been programmed by music development agency, Generator.

Business development director at Keiro, Alistair McDonald, said, "We are honoured to have secured Arts Council funding for a second year in a row now. Without this funding and our sponsors, the lineup and the event wouldn’t be as fantastic as it is.

"It has been well documented in the press that some festivals and the arts in general are having a tough time lately, especially in the North East, so to be able to stage the fourth Chase Park Festival is incredible."

The whole idea behind the event is to be inclusive for everyone regardless of ability. Factors such as remote locations, high expense, access and poor facilities can often mean many mainstream outdoor music festivals can often exclude people with disabilities. Chase Park Festival also aims to helping break down cultural barriers and stereotypes often associated with people with disabilities by engaging with the whole community. The festival uses music as the foundation to get people from all walks of life together to enjoy a fun-packed carnival atmosphere.

Using special raised trackways the event is accessible to all and enables people to get to the stage whatever the weather, There is also a drop-off point that aids access to the stage, and to specialised mobility equipment should it be needed. This year there are also British Sign Language interpreters.

There will also be circus demonstrations, DJ workshops, a holistic therapy tent, craft stalls, face painting, and an array of food and drink.

Tickets are free to people with disability (who need it to be) and their carers / support workers but other tickets are priced £3, £5 for a family (2 adults and up to 4 kids) or a £10 ticket to help with the cost of running next year's event.

To buy tickets now, click here.

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