Looking for something a little different to do with the family this summer? Struggling to find somewhere that both you and the kids can enjoy? It can be hard to find any crossover whatsoever in what you’re interested in – especially music. Thankfully, that’s where Hardwick Live comes in.
Established in 2013, Hardwick Live is an event that pushes out all the stops, surpassing expectations of what a music festival can be. Previous years have seen huge acts such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Madness, Razorlight and 10cc, as well as countless celebrity DJs and activity booths, make their way to the Sedgefield stage.
Thousands of people of all ages flock to the event every year, and it’s easy to see why.
Spread over two stages, the event takes place on the weekend of the 17th and 18th August, and the list of performers is massive. You can expect to see Manic Street Preachers, The Zutons, James, Stiff Little Fingers, Sister Sledge, The Joy Formidable, Ziggy Marley, Billy Bragg, Lisa Stansfield, The Sherlocks, A Certain Ratio, Bloxx, Catherine McGrath, Cattle & Cane, The Lancashire Hotpots, James Walsh, Rothwell, Sports Team, Zuzu, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club and more.
Sets range between 30 and 75 minutes, allowing the ‘more popular’ acts to take up more stage time and the ‘more niche’ artists to give you a flavour of what they’re all about. Not only that, but a DJ’s dome is set to pop up near the entrance, where carefully selected local DJs can show us what an amazing experience they can really provide.
Because it can seem nigh on impossible to keep the whole family happy at once, there are a multitude of non-musical avenues of entertainment to tempt you too. Little ones won’t sit still? No problem at all! For that exact eventuality, there will be a children’s area designated near the entrance of the park, complete with Punch and Judy shows, arts and crafts, circus skill training and even a children’s disco. There are even a few small rides that children can enjoy, and further into the park, the huge and thrilling kind of fairground rides for the older kids.
Although it is a two-day event, there will be no shortage of food and drinks to try whenever you get peckish. There are plenty of bars, stalls, and even places to buy Mexican, Thai, Indian or Cuban food, not to mention the pop-up celebrity chef kitchens said to be in store; my mouth waters just thinking about it. There will be concessions stands catering to many different dietary requirements, including plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
The event capacity is a whopping ten thousand people, many of whom will be staying there overnight on the Saturday so that they can enjoy both days of thrilling music. Anybody staying for the entire weekend can either pitch their own tents or splash out on some extravagant glamping, or even stay in a camper van. Included in these prices are toilet and shower facilities and a community cooking area to prepare your own night-time snacks.
Because people will be flocking in their droves from all over the North East, there will be reasonably priced coach services provided from numerous locations, with return journeys so that festival-goers can leave their cars at home. For those that would prefer to drive in, however, there is an extensive car park that is locked overnight.
Tickets start at £55.00 for a single day adult ticket, with concessions for young people and children. A full price list can be found on the Hardwick Live website, along with further camping and accessibility information.
A percentage of the event’s proceeds will be sent to this year’s selected charities, Solan Connor Fawcett and the Angel Trust, that help those touched by cancer and those in need in the County Durham area, respectively.
Further information can be found at hardwicklive.co.uk.
