Get Involved

Site Stewards

To make Stortford Music Festival happen, we need the support of volunteer stewards, who are a much valued part of the Festival’s organisation and are essential to its smooth running. Our stewards provide a significant contribution on the days of the festival, as well as the days beforehand and afterwards.
Enjoy the Festival by giving your time and energy in making it really happen! There are benefits, including full weekend ticket, free food meal voucher, meeting new friends, learning new skills and being part of the Festival’s growing team of volunteers. In exchange we would expect you to work two x 2.5 hour stints of duty (5 hours in all) over the whole weekend on either Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. So....we need your help!
There will be full training given and you will report in to a Senior Steward.
You will be:

  • Acting as site crew
  • Staffing car park
  • Welcoming people to the Festival
  • Checking tickets and wristbands
  • Staffing Information Desk
  • Being the friendly face of the Festival informing visitors
  • Maintaining emergency service access
  • Ensuring site remains litter free
  • Serving drinks in the Acoustic Marquee


Please apply now as we are currently recruiting volunteer stewards for the Festival weekend.
You can download a copy of the Stewards Application Form and a welcome letter outlining your responsibilities as a steward and volunteer in PDF format here:


CLICK HERE FOR THE STEWARD APPLICATION FORM (PDF Format)
CLICK HERE FOR THE VOLUNTEER WELCOME LETTER AND INFORMATION (PDF Format)

If you are interested in being considered, please complete the attached form and submit to Annie Compton, c/o Stortford Music Festival, PO Box 9799, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6XB or email info@stortfordmusicfestival.org.uk.

Craft Demonstrators & Stallholders/Traders

Stortford Music Festival is a small, friendly festival, which will be held again at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Bishop’s Stortford. However, this year we are hoping to attract some 2,000 people. The Festival is based on a single outdoor site, which comprises two stages, one a 'Green' Stage plus an acoustic tent in a different part of the field. More marquees are planned this year in order to give extra protection against the elements.

 

The Craft/Traders area will be arranged 'in the round' starting either side of the Green Stage, and this is where you may set up your own stall. Ideally stalls should be up to 3 metres wide and 3 metres deep. A full programme of events will be held on the Saturday (from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.) and the Sunday (from 12 noon to 9.00 p.m.) For this year’s exciting 2 day Outdoor Festival, the cost of the stall will be:

  • For Craft Demonstrators and Stallholders: £30.00 for the 2 day event
  • For Traders: £50.00 for the 2 day event


*** Please note that we now have now all our stalls for this year’s festival***
If you would like to be considered for next year’s festival, please email us. Thanks.

This includes two free tickets for yourself and a 'helper', as well as free camping, but please note that the facilities are basic (Portaloos only).

 

Unfortunately, we have to advise you that dogs, other than guide dogs, will not be allowed on site.Stalls which involve demonstrations of craft skills and/or include participation by the public are especially welcome. However, you should note that we consider that craft stalls are those selling items made by the stallholders. Stallholders selling items purchased elsewhere are viewed as traders and will need to apply for a traders stall. When booking a stall space, please indicate the size and layout of your stall on the template provided on the booking form. Please note that no mains electricity will be available, but site lighting will be. You should bring your own stall, plus any shelter/seating that you require (e.g. Gazebo).

Stallholders will be able to set up from 8.00a.m.to 9.30 a.m. on the Saturday. For safety reasons, arrivals outside these times cannot be permitted. Vehicles must be parked in the dedicated parking area for stallholders by 9.30 a.m. On arrival, please report to the Information Desk, where you will be directed to your pitch. Please bring your Confirmation of Booking with you, to exchange for your Festival wristbands.

Please note that we have now booked our caterers for this year’s festival.
If you would like to be considered for next year’s festival, please email us. Thanks.

 

Sponsorship

What is the Festival?

The only festival for Independent Artists from the Region.   A weekend of fantastic music and much more for the whole family to enjoy. It’s a 2 day music festival held over a weekend in Bishops Stortford town, which promotes a variety of musical acts from a wide variety of genre. It not only is a series of concerts, it encourages people to take part in fun workshops where they are taught to play and perform. This is the festival’s ninth year and last year saw more than 1,000 people attend. This year we are hoping to double the size of the audience.

We are currently in the process of booking artists for this year’s festival but already we have a good nucleus representation from Bishop’s Stortford and its surrounding area. However, we have artists from an area that broadly ranges from Cambridge down to London and Chelmsford over to Welwyn Garden City.  

The aim of the festival is to provide a forum to celebrate and showcase the rich seam of musical gold running through the area, with a focus on innovation and originality, which will enrich and involve the community.   Last year, we staged some 45 acts throughout the whole weekend;   80% of the material performed was either original or traditional.   All profits are reinvested for community benefit.

Who runs the music Festival?

The festival started out as a series of workshops in 1997 under the banner of Woodworks Music and Dance.  From humble beginnings, it has evolved to become the musical extravaganza it now is.    It is run by a team of volunteers with a passion for music, whose aim is to build community through live music.  They have good technical support from professional stage hands and engineers and the highest quality production standards.

Behind the scenes there is a dedicated team of volunteers carrying out various administrative tasks. Then of course there are all the people who help and take part on the day in ensuring that everything runs smoothly .
Other support comes from The Realife Trust that has provided free office and events management services.

When will it take place?

The weekend of fifth and sixth of May from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. on the Saturday and from 12.00 noon until 9.00 p.m. on the Sunday.

Who is there on the day / what happens on the day?

This is a small, intimate festival which is growing. The people who come to our festival are music fans from a catchment area of approximately 20miles radius of Bishop’s Stortford. The use of wrist bands means these people are free to come and go from the festival site as they please. Most people make the short journey into the town centre to buy things from the shops there. Some stay at friends houses while others stay at hotels, guest houses and B&Bs.

Musically most of the acts are accomplished musicians and popular on the regional music circuit. We also encourage up and coming acts who we consider to have reached the necessary musical standard and also are suitable for an audience of all ages.

This year more than 50 acts will perform at the festival and will perform a wide range of musical styles from acoustic jazz to traditional folk.

On site will be a range of stalls selling food, alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and merchandise such as clothing, jewellery and musical instruments. We are currently in negotiation with companies within our catchment area to supply these facilities.

Who attends?

We are proud that previous festivals have attracted people from all age groups. From teenagers who still go to school through to TOGS, all have said they have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Sponsorship in general

This is an excellent opportunity for you and your business to get your services or products out to a captive audience and at the same time support an event that is rapidly becoming a major date on the Bishop’s Stortford calendar.

Sponsorship and  local benefits

The festival raises the profile of Bishop’s Stortford far beyond its immediate surrounds. It brings many people into the town that subsequently have a direct positive impact on trade. It also brings together people of all social classes and provides an environment to showcase talent. The workshops have been proven to encourage people to take up all sorts of new skills.

What are the mechanics?

  • Corporate sponsorship
  • Stalls
  • Toilets sponsorship
  • Stage equipment sponsorship
  • Busk stop sponsorship
  • Product placement e.g. sunscreen manufacturers (FOC samples)

 

Eating and Drinking guide

Recommended places to eat and drink in Bishop’s Stortford , can split into coffee houses, pubs, bars, restaurants and a map to show where they are.

Working in partnership

We are keen to develop strong ties with our sponsors and to help this we are offering companies and organisations the opportunity to commit to sponsoring the event for several years in a row.
If you are willing to come on board with us in these early years, we are willing to freeze our rates until 2010. Preferential rates can then be negotiated, thereafter.

For further information, please email us at: info@stortfordmusicfestival.org.uk