“You can always start again” that’s the mantra for Luton music festival Castlefest which makes a big return to the town after the 18-month national coronavirus shutdown of live gigs, returning to it’s “spiritual home” of The Castle Tavern.
Barring that Covid hiatus, the festival had enjoyed an eight-year run in the town, to the point that it moved from the town centre pub and live music venue to the larger Carnival Arts Centre on St Mary’s Road.
But after such a prolonged period without concerts for everyone, Luton Live/s Promotions, the organisation behind Castlefest, decided to bring it back to where it all began. But rather than a weekend of gigs, as has been tradition, they’re kicking off seven days of music, bookended by all-day weekend bills, with more than 30 acts playing across the week.
Between Monday and Friday there are bands billed every night, including Thursday which is being curated by the team behind Luton’s music and arts fanzine Vandalism Begins at Home.
Speaking to the town’s Transmission radio show on Diverse FM, Luton Live/s chief, Paul Mercer, said: “We decided we wanted to give something back to the town and the artists that haven’t been able to play for 16 to 18 months.
“And we wanted to do something a bit special and out of the ordinary. I decided and they (the Luton Live/s team) went along with it, and they probably hate me for it, but we decided we were going to do a whole week’s worth of gigs.
“It’s great to have it (gigs) back, especially with Castlefest and bringing it back to the spiritual home of Castlefest, remembering that you can always start again.
“The tagline that we’ve got for this year is that we can always start again, because these things happen and stuff sets it back, but if you really want it, then begin again, start again, pick it up and go again.
“That’s the mantra for what we’re doing again with the Castle and now working with The Hat Factory and doing things on the other side of town, with hopefully lots of big things coming that way next year. It’s just about embracing that new beginning.”
Castlefest will also be a new start for Vandalism Begins at Home, as their Thursday night festival takeover will be the first live night the ‘zine team have put on since a legendary show at Harvey’s in March 2020, just before Covid-19 struck.
The Vandalism crew have continued to produce fanzines throughout the pandemic, despite the lack of live music and VBAH editor, Ben Barry, said: “It’s going to be our first gig back, so it’s going to be quite emotional. It’s not sunk in yet. I’ve not allowed it to sink in. We’re really excited about that.
“We’ve got TMCF who will be making their Luton debut. We’ve got SOURDOUGH who are no strangers to the town. They’ve been working very hard and they’re a different beast these days.
“We’ve got Séan Grant and the Wolfgang, who I can’t wait to see live. This is their first gig back since Covid and I know he’s very excited.
“And we’ve got local heroes JW Paris headlining so it’s going to be a hell of a show. But every day at Castlefest is going to be a hell of a day.”
The festival opener (Sunday September 19) has seen a late line-up reshuffle after headliner The St Pierre Snake Invasion had to pull out through injury, with Blanket replacing them at the top of the bill. Beneath the Flowers and The Trophy Life have also had to pull out, but Luton’s dirty fuzz rockers Dois Padres have joined the bill, along with North Atlas and We Are BrokenTooth.
The Castlefest kick-off comes in a week in which Luton Live/s announced a new partnership with The Culture Trust Luton and Hat Factory Arts Centre, where they’ve been putting on Basement Live shows on the last Saturday of every month.
They’ll continue doing that under the rebranded name of Basement Live/s, whilst working with The Culture Trust and The Hat Factory to provide rehearsal space for bands and musicians and continuing to plan larger showcases and events at the venue.
Speaking to Transmission, Mercer said: “Laura (Hill – Luton Live/s and front woman of Ill Informed) has curated more of a grime, rap show. It gives us a chance to branch out with how we book shows, rather than sticking to what we know of, if it’s got blast beats then we’ll put it on.
“It’s challenging us in the right ways to put more diverse shows on in town. If people want it then we’ll do it, there’s no reason why not.
“With this town, we’ve always tried, with Castlefest, to build it up for the people in it.
“It needs to show exactly what’s going on in the town and what’s going on around, because otherwise people aren’t going to see it. All of the music in all of the town needs to be felt and seen by all of the people.”
A full festival ticket for Castlefest costs £20 for the seven days at Eventbrite, but music lovers can pay £5 for individual days or pay on the door.
