"Rock in the Park" - 2025

		Another RITP! ..... 8th June 2025 12PM - 6 PM King George V Playing Fields Part of Stevenage Day

Between 1996 and 2007 'Rock in the Park' was a much loved Stevenage event. Taking place in Fairlands Valley Park, it grew from a small concert with about 200 attendees to a yearly fun day for thousands of people enjoying a free family day out. Many local bands performed on the bandstand stage and many local people worked hard as volunteers to make the event happen.

Sadly the day became a victim of its own success when it proved impossible for volunteers to continue to deliver such a popular event, within the physical constraints of the Fairlands location, to the public safety standards demanded today - and to keep it free too. But many people, including the Festival, have never given up on being able to bring back something like Rock in the Park to Stevenage.

In 2016 Stevenage Borough Council worked with local recording studio The Practice Roomz to introduce a music stage to another well-loved local event - Stevenage Day and we helped to provide some of the monies to pay for the headliners. We've been supporting them since then. Although the Festival only runs every two years we have supported Rock in the Park each year it has run as part of Stevenage Day.

So, as ever, this year it WILL BE in a park (albeit a different one than the original park), it will still be free and it will have a great rock line-up. We bring together the best of our local music talent on two great sound stages, finishing with a great headliner to close the event. This year it will be Emergency Break.

The hope for the day is always -
"So come along and spend a lazy June Sunday afternoon sitting on the grass with your friends and family with a cold drink in your hand, listening to Stevenage bands old and new. Bring a picnic, enjoy the stalls, kids rides and entertainment that Stevenage Day has to offer and have a great day out."

Last year we had expected the same. Great weather (DRY!) and great music on two stages and that's what we got.

This year too we hope for the same. Great weather (DRY!) and great music on two stages and (hopefully!) that's what we'll get.

We'd like to get bigger and better in future years - more bands, more facilities, but we can only do this and keep it free if we all work together. If you love Rock in the Park this year then please support us with this step towards building it back to its past glory. If you think Stevenage needs events like this then tell your friends, tell your local Councillors, tell everyone! And, of course, come to as many Festival events in the Gordon Craig Theatre as you can - any money we make gets ploughed back into things like RITP and better events.

Bands and artists on the stages

Band Stage (aqua) - Acoustic Stage (yellow)

12:00		Black Carrot - Facebook - Spotify
	Black Carrot are a 3 Piece Rock Covers based Hertfordshire. BLACK CARROT are a fiery three-piece band bringing punk spirit, alt-rock attitude, and big, arena-ready choruses to the frontline of original music.
12:40		Mark Shepherd - Facebook Page - Instagram page - Spotify - Youtube
	Mark Shepherd is a singer/songwriter based in Cambridge with a strong, distinctive baritone and a dark brand of thought provoking acoustic rock/Americana. He sings original Acoustic Rock music.
13:00		Escape Route - Facebook - Instagram - YouTube
	Escape Route are a 4-piece indie rock band from North Hertfordshire. Influenced by the 70's to modern day rock, Escape Route not only perform in their own style with a set of catchy original songs, but are excited to begin their journey to introduce their anthemic riffs and dirty blues sounds to the wider listeners in the UK
13:40		Big Gub - Instagram page - YouTube
	Rap with smooth backing tracks.
14:00		The Wayward Sons - Facebook page - Instagram - Soundcloud
	The Wayward Sons are a four piece acoustic band whose musical cannon encompasses a variety of genres. A deep rooted love of Americana forms the bedrock of a Wayward Sons show, with their stand-out vocal harmonies sitting perfectly alongside cajon, bass, harmonica and acoustic guitar. The Wayward Sons perform regularly in venues across Hertfordshire and Essex, and a typical show will include their own versions of recognised songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Prine and The Alabama 3 to name but a few. These are punctuated with numerous original songs, each one with a story to tell.
14:40		Amber Lily - Facebook page - Spotify - YouTube
	Amber Lilly is a singer/songwriter and musician born in Welwyn Garden City. She gained popularity with her original songs about overcoming difficult times and struggles with mental health. Advocating to aspire for better futures and supporting one another.
15:00		Covering Fire - Facebook page - YouTube
	Herts-based supergroup, covering rock, britpop, punk and new-wave hits from the 70s - 00s. Featuring Foo Fighters, Oasis, Stereophonics, The Killers, Green Day, The Clash, Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol, The Cure, Queen, The Jam, The Beatles & many more..
15:40		Ivanmore - Facebook page - Spotify - Soundcloud
	Ivanmore is a Soul/Funk/Groove enthusiast. A Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist along with his band The Groove Profound. Influenced by Classic Soul, Funk and Rare Grooves, Ivanmore has every intention of making sure his audience 'Get down on The One'!
16:00		Bleak Affair - Instagram page
	Alt Rock band.
16:40		Magenta Slipperz - Facebook page - Instagram
	Cabaret Drag Singer Artiste. Actor. Solo guitarist and singer. Presenting music from across the decades and appealing to young and old alike.
17:00		Emergency Break - Facebook page - YouTube - Spotify - Website
	Emerging from London (UK) 'Emergency Break' put a fresh spin on the regrowing Post-Punk Indie Scene with a growing library of originals, Emergency Break are the hottest band on the London gig circuit.

If you want to view the 2024 set of performers then look here.

Of course these sort of events take lots of planning and organisation and special thanks go to .... Kriss Lawrence at The Practice Roomz and Stevenage Borough Council.