Staycation Live

Now into its 8th year Godalming's community music, food and arts festival Staycation Live is back, bigger and better and will be held over the weekend of 3rd, 4th and 5th of August. Staycation Live is one of Surrey’s fastest growing music and arts festivals, with an ethos for showcasing a broad range of music, local food and entertainment. 

The festival has brought many great and diverse acts to Godalming over the two stages set in picturesque Phillips Memorial Park and you can expect more of the same this year with an eclectic mix of acts and bands ranging from folk to funk, electro swing to mega folk and ska to hip-hop. 

First announcements for this year include the 12-piece mega folk act The Destroyers, a collection of rogues and misfits surfing a tidal wave of horns, fiddles and guitars rapidly exploding from the 'Balkan Brass' genre they emerge as an anarchic orchestra of blazing passion and breathtaking originality. Back again for this third Staycation outing is Professor Elemental who alongside Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer and Captain Flatcap will be getting the Festival underway at the Friday night launch party to be held at the Red Lion. The Stiff Joints are an eleven slice ska feast playing an infectious brand of two-tone ska that makes it impossible to sit still and are the ultimate feel-good festival act. Smiley and the Underclass echo the rebellious call to arms of The Clash and Dylan, infused with the bass-heavy vibrations of Jamaican sound system culture and sings the revolution blues with a burning fire largely missing from today’s music scene while Surrey based The Salts are a co-operative of seasoned musicians, creating what is fast becoming one of the most exciting and energetic folk concepts of recent times. They have developed their own unique sound mixing well written original compositions alongside traditional tunes we all know and love, their live shows are guaranteed to get you dancing and singing along and their debut album ‘She Rises’ has received rave reviews across the board. The Wessex Pistols will be bringing all the punk hits in a hillbilly style while the Dream Themes, who began life as Frank Sidebottom's Oh Blimey Big Band for the London area plays semi-professional versions of TV theme tunes. Offbeat Offensive formed in early 2010 and have earned a reputation as one of Portsmouth's most popular and versatile Ska-Punk bands complete with Catchy sing-along choruses, Hard-hitting riffs and a bombastic five-piece horn section.

To keep you fuelled throughout the weekend you’ll find some of the best craft ales and cider from local brewers at the well-stocked bar curated by Guildford based The Little Beer Corporation. As always you’ll find mocktails and cocktails at Beetle Juice Cocktails and food from the Milford Meatroaster, Burrito Loco and Lada Thai. This year, they also welcome Godalming based Beta Foods, who will be bringing you wholesome and very tasty vegan delights including some of the best burgers ever tasted! There’ll be plenty more to keep you entertained with Kids zone, Willow twisting workshops, Baby and Toddler Yoga, Henna tattoos and much, much more. As well as the events in the park during the day there are a whole host of evening venues holding many different events all over town and keeping the party going well into the night. 

Staycation Live 2018 is a donation based, pay what you feel festival and couldn’t take place if it wasn’t for the support they receive from the public so please support the event and their chosen charity by donating at the festival on the day. This year's chosen charity is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Support UK who support and empower anyone affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy. If you’d like to find out more including up to date line-up announcements or to get involved as a volunteer, visit www.staycationlivefestival.co.uk or search for Staycation Live Festival on Facebook. Please remember, there are great transport links to the festival with the site itself only 5 minutes walk from Godalming train station so please leave the car at home.