The Southsea Rocks Music Event

All great things begin with a dream, a vision, and Southsea Rocks music festival is no different.
The event is being organised by Andy Young, a Portsmouth born and bred music fan (and Pompey fan!)and friend of mine for the past 20 years. Andy has been organising outdoor shows and prestigious exhibitions for most of those 20 years I've know him. The Southsea Rocks music event has spun out of Andy's dream to re-launch a new and refreshed 'Southsea Show.' In the latter years what was once a great family show became a bit 'tired' and eventually died.. Andy had the vision to launch a similar landmark event and on the back of this organise a music festival for Portsmouth and Southsea. His own love of music has created a passion and energy for this event which will make it a leading festival and the seed of the idea has snowballed at a fantastic pace. New acts are signing up daily and the variety of music will make this an incredible event not to be missed. The location on Southsea's waterfront will add to the atmosphere and create something truly unique. Both of us went to the Judge Jules event a few years ago in Southsea and the quality of the acts lining up for Southsea Rocks will easlily rival that!

Saturday February 23rd saw the officical launch of the Southsea Rocks music festival with the arrival of an open-top double decker bus!
In spite of some rain the response from the crowds as the bus stopped off in Commercial Road and then moved on to Palmerston Road was fantastic. The enthusiasm for the event and for the daytime Portsmouth Summer Show which runs over the same time was incredible. We knew the time was right for such an event and the residents and Portsmouth and Southsea certainly confimed that!
Portsmouth's leading local radio station 107.4 The Quay did a live broadcast from the bus and there was a taste of some of the music to come with live performances by Scissor Sisters tribute band Filfthy Gorgeous, Rat Pack tribute singer Jamie Riley and local bands Gilkicker and Rosco.
The interest in the event is snowballing and the list of acts signing up is incredible! Whatever your taste, superstar DJ's, Indie bands or tributes (Rolling Stones.. Beatles...!) there will be something for you at Southsea Rocks!

The diversity of music at the Southsea Rocks event will be amazing and in terms of value for money I don't know of any music festival in the South to rival it. Even those attending to see a band or act they follow will surely find something else of interest in the extensive line up of acts! Against the backdrop of Southsea's waterfront Southsea Rocks is surely going to be the music event of the year for the south coast.
The diversity of music styles and tastes is even reflected in the bands themselves. For example, the brilliant Gilkicker have influences from The Beatles, The Doors, Johnny Cash and Chuck Berry! Imagine the sound of those legends of music blended together in a vibrant young sound.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=31488638

Fresh from his stunning performance of The Kings Theatre Southsea Jamie Riley is set to wow the crowds at Southsea Rocks in August.
Jamie Riley, 15, faced stiff competition for the chance to perform on stage at the Kings Theatre's 100th birthday celebrations. Talented Jamie performed the Rat Pack classic Ain't That a Kick In the Head at his audition at the Salvation Army hall, Albert Road, Southsea, to get to the Kings. Jamie's proud mum Sue said her son had shown showbiz promise from an early age and had been singing since he was about nine.
Where else can you expect to hear Rat Pack classics sung on the same stage as The Scissor Sisters songs and top DJ's mixing live?!
The excitement's building by the day... Southsea Rocks!

A second promotion of the Southsea Rocks music festival is being planned in association with Portsmouth's Quay Radio. A number of live bands from Portsmouth will perform on the show bus as it tours the city giving a flavour of the musical variety we can expect to see at the new music festival in 2008. More new acts have approached us to play at the festival.
Watch this space for more music festival news!
Will it become bigger than The Isle of Wight Festival over the water?!

Tickets for the Southsea Rocks music festival will be on sale on the official site from April 21st from the offical website
www.portsmouthshow.co.uk
The ever increasing line up is listed on the site with acts now including Dusted Breaks, Ronnie Wood's son Jessie Woods and a host of tribute bands for the Sunday night. Over ther 3 days of Southsea Rocks there will truly be something for everyone! A headline act for the Saturday night is on the horizon - watch this space!
With Pompey's football club favourites to win the FA Cup and the launch of this premier music event it looks as if 2008 will really be a year to put Portmouth on the map