CarFest 2024
CarFest 2024, Laverstoke Park Farm, August bank holiday weekend. The family festival raised thousands for charities, including local charity Naomi House and Jacksplace which offers respite, end of life care and bereavement support for seriously ill children, young adults and their families.
This year’s Main Stage kicked off with a bang, with a variety of genres to suit all music tastes, from indie to rock and pop. Friday saw music legends, including Richard Ashcroft from The Verve, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, music icon Beverley Knight and pop rock band Scouting For Girls take to the stage.
Saturday saw Rick Parfitt Jr. truly light up the stage, supercharging the audience and getting them ready for music sensation Olly Murs, Eurovision star Sam Ryder, and Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters who all wowed the crowds with their catchy pop tunes.
Finally, the festival closed on Sunday with thrilling performances from Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue who brought their signature rock ‘n’ roll flair to the stage, 90s rock band Kula Shaker, and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell who showcased their iconic reggae vibes.
Beyond the Main Stage, the StarFest Stage crafted by Mazda once again served as a captivating platform for luminaries from the realms of television, comedy, literature and more. An array of talent graced the stage, providing inspirational talks including; astronaut Tim Peake, Hollywood actor Tom Ellis, Countdown co-presenter Rachel Riley, Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, actor and comedian Rob Brydon MBE, famed EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy, comedian Ed Byrne, Dragon’s Den icon Deborah Meaden, Ted Lasso actor James Lance, BBC ‘The Repair Shop’s’ Jay Blades and much loved performer Jane McDonald. The stars engaged in compelling conversations with Virgin Radio UK’s Steve Denyer and Olivia Jones on their careers and discussed topics ranging from career longevity and success to acting highlights and their future plans.
Meanwhile, The Author’s Stage, which was hosted by Bryony Gordon and Virgin Radio UK’s Ryan Tubridy, saw in-depth discussions with the likes of TV presenter Anita Rani, authors JoJo Moyes, Adele Parks, Ben Miller, Mike Gayle, Nicki Chapman, Meik Wiking and Lucy Foley, newsreader and broadcaster Kate Silverton, former English footballer Andy Ramage and actress Jill Halfpenny discussing their careers.
The 2025 event will be 22-24 August. Early Bird Sale to the general public from Thursday 5 September to 8 September, with a Super Early Bird Sale on the 4 September for anyone who registers on the form. Ticket prices will be frozen at the 2024 prices, and prices will go up as usual around November time. Make sure you don’t miss the Super Early Bird Sale if you want to secure your favourite ticket type at a 2024 price and get a 24 hour head start when tickets go back on sale!
