April 2009 - Pittball's Got Teeth
 MUSIC lovers are getting ready for a
festival with even more punch as
tickets for the first ever two-day Pittball
go on sale.
After five previous incarnations that
have seen the Thorncombe-based
gathering grow in size and diversity,
this year’s Pittball – The Joy of Six –
requires a Friday and a Saturday to fit
everything in.
Among the acts in this year’s line-up
is Cornish acoustic sensation Ruarri
Joseph, described by NME as ‘what
Dylan might have been like had he
grown up in Newquay’, as well as
plenty of homegrown acoustic talent
for lazing on a sunny afternoon.
In the evenings the party gets started
with bands like Imperial Leisure, a
London ska/rock/hip-hop ten-piece
energy ball who love nothing more
than some guerrilla gigging in Camden
– when they’re not supporting The
Sugar Hill Gang, Gym Class Heroes or
Ugly Duckling on tour.
Add some intelligent electro breaks
from Subgiant, funk/nu-jazz band
Junkyard Scientists, last year’s
favourites Syd Arthur plus Mista:Kite,
The Hats, Astrophysics, Boy Did Good, Billy in the lowground
and Project Mayhem, DJ’s hosted by
Gavin Quiet and plenty more, and you
have a Pittball with some serious teeth!
Organisers Mike Pitt, Steve Adams
and Ben Walker have worked hard to
keep the festival suitable for all ages
with a family camping area and plenty
of activities and games for all ages.
The Pittball Charity Music Festival in
support of Somerset mental health
groups opens its gates at midday on
Friday, June 12. Tickets cost just £20 and
are available on-line.
2008 -
Pittball festival returns!!!
By Richard Purdon
FESTIVAL organisers are reminding music fans to pack
a tent and prepare for the treat of the year as the Pittball
returns to Thorncombe sports field this Saturday, June
14.
Featuring eight bands on the main stage playing everything
from blues to rock to hip hop and performers from as far
away as Brooklyn, New York, the fifth year of the Pittball
promises to take things to a new level. The acoustic tents
and bouncy castles - as well as a hog roast, an outdoor
bar and Caribbean food - means there will be something
for everyone.
One of the organisers Steve (woth on) Adams said: "We're
really looking forward to getting everybody along, music
lovers of all ages. Hopefully the friendly atmosphere
we've created before will be repeated and families, children
and adults alike will all have a great day raising money
for charity."
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Gates open at 6pm on Friday with music starting at 12noon
on Saturday and continuing through the night. Tickets
cost £10 on the gate, including camping and free
entry for children.
All profits made go to local mental health charities
and organisations helping children with learning difficulties,
for details follow the link below.
2006
- Having a Pittball!
From the Chard & Ilminster News,
first published Wednesday 7th June 2006.
THE third annual Pittball music festival, held at Thorncombe
Sports and Social Club, raised more than £1,000 for
charity on Saturday. The event was set up by a group of
musicians and enthusiasts in memory of their friend Simon
Pitt, of Tatworth. Here, one of the organisers, Richard
Purdon, reviews the day.
PLANNING for the Pittball had begun many months
previously, a small group gathered around a Poppe Inn bar
table and as cider was sipped, ideas took shape and contacts
were exchanged. Now there was just the small matter of doing
it… Dozens of volunteers worked until after dark on
Friday as they tried to make sure the next day would run
smoothly, but even with most things in place and a promising
weather forecast, it was a sleepless night for many organisers.
Clear blue skies and bright sunshine were definitely in
attendance on Saturday morning as Pittballers from across
the country started setting up their tents. By early afternoon
the music was underway with an audience including toddlers,
teenagers, young professionals, grandparents and puppies
all equally enjoying the fine weather, great music and cold
drinks.
The Chopper's Spit crew went above and beyond the call all
day, providing mouth-watering food to a crowd who kept coming
back for more. The same was true of the Thorncombe Sports
and Social Club staff.
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The broad appeal of the music ranged from
the foot stompin' Crawfish, who readers may have seen
at the Ashill festival raising money for the Air Ambulance,
to wisecracking rappers Lower Case, who used their between-song
banter to poke fun at friend Gareth Smith for his Radio
One performance on 'One Night With Laura'. The upbeat,
merry and occasionally sunburned crowd continued to
grow and a real sense of 'we're getting there' prevailed.
Helpers such as chief face-painter Heather Upham were
surprised at how far some people had
travelled to be there. |
Headliners Zubina brought the festival to
a guitar-fuelled climax at midnight, a tight sounding band
who played with energy and charisma, and will undoubtedly
prove more than worthy supporting The Zutons on their upcoming
tour. One of the organisers, Ben Walker, said: "We
are extremely grateful for the good attendance and would
like to thank everyone who helped us achieve this, especially
Sue and all the staff at Thorncombe Sports and Social Club."
The Pittball will return on June
12th & 13th 2009 .
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