New concert at next year’s Sweeps Festival

Residents encouraged to book tickets for a new concert at the Rochester Sweeps Festival next year.

The annual festival will be held on Saturday, 5 May, Sunday, 6 May and Monday, 7 May in Rochester.

Three hundred years ago children were used as chimney sweeps and earnt very little. An annual holiday on 1 May gave them the chance to have some fun. Rochester’s chimney sweeps staged a procession each year to collect money but, when it became illegal to employ climbing boys to carry out the trade in 1868 the tradition began to fade. The last May celebration was held in the early 1900s until keen local historian Gordon Newton revived the celebration in 1981. Medway Council has continued to support the festival, alongside Gordon, ever since.

Next year, a ticketed concert will be held in Rochester Castle Gardens during the evening on Saturday, 5 May. English roots band Edward II will perform in front of the impressive castle keep. The band blends the rhythms of the Caribbean with traditional English songs born in the industrial revolution. Edward II has reworked them into modern roots reggae classics, featuring Glen Latouche’s vocals at and a rhythm section led by T Carthy. Funke and the Two Tone Baby will also perform.

‘We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors’

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors from across the country to Medway during the Sweeps Festival next year. The weekend is packed full of live performances and fun activities for all the family. I would encourage residents, and visitors, to book their concert tickets early to avoid disappointment.”

For more information, or to book tickets call the box office on 01634 338338.

To find out more about the Sweeps Festival visit www.medway.gov.uk/sweepsfestival