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A PARTY in the park is promised for the summer when the biggest ever Rugby Music Festival is held at Whitehall Rec.
Organisers have announced plans for an expanded festival – previously held since 2011 in Caldecott Park – that will grow to accommodate 20 acts across two stages.
A later noise curfew will also be allowed in the hope there will be no repeat of scheduling problems which arose at last year's event.
The festival - first held with just six bands on the bandstand - has been given the provisional go-ahead by the borough council to take place on August 9 at the new venue.
It will feature a bigger main stage for headline bands, and a more intimate acoustic marquee stage for smaller and solo acts as well as a licensed bar.
Event organiser David Head said the council agreed it had outgrown Caldecott Park, and that Whitehall Rec was a more suitable venue, not least because alcohol is banned from the former due to local bylaws.
“A music festival is only going to grow if we can offer a licenced bar area," he added
“We are keen to allow the event to grow as it deserves, as Rugby has a thriving music scene and should be recognised for it.
“In the longer term it is feasible it could become a significant sized festival and this is the next logical step towards that. Bring on Glastonrugby in a few years time!”
A detailed event plan and schedule is now being drawn up while sponsorship is also being sought.
“We want to deliver the 2014 event free of charge to the people of Rugby so we need a couple of backers. If any local businesses can help, please get in touch," Mr Head added.
This year's event featured 16 acts and attracted thousands of people to the town centre, raising over £1,000 in donations for RP Fighting Blindness, Talking Newspapers for the Blind and the festival itself.
However, it ended abruptly when headliners White Men Can't Funk's set was cut short due to the event falling behind schedule and overrunning its 7.30pm noise curfew.
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