Latest News
Announcements as they happen, this is where to be kept informed.
 | 15.05.13 - COMPERE FOR FRIDAY, 19TH JULY 2013 ANNOUNCED OEP Live! are pleased to announce that the amazing BBC Radio Presenter, SUE MARCHANT, will be the compere for Friday, 19th July 2013 at Abbey Fest 2013.
SUE MARCHANT has been working in professional Radio since 1999 for both commercial and the BBC. Always ready with a mic in her hand Sue’s background is entertainment still performing the odd gig for fun. On her radio show Sue has supported live music with a platform for local musicians as well as chatting to the great and good. It should be a ‘Fabulous’ Folk on Friday! Catch Sue on air Sunday evenings from 8 – 10pm on BBC Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge and Norfolk.
PURE ENTERTAINMENT! YOU MUST BE THERE ! |
 | 14.05.13 - NEW ACT ANNOUNCED - FRIDAY, 19TH JULY 2013 OEP Live! are pleased to announce that local singer/songwriter, NIK LOWE will be performing at Abbey Fest 2013 on Friday, 19th July 2013. NIK LOWE is an acoustic soul/pop/rock/blues/crooner like no other. It’s hard to put NIK LOWE into a box labelled with a particular genre of music because NIK’S song-writing style covers most genres. One minute his music is rocky and raw, the next smooth and schmaltzy, then on to pure retro-pop - and all with a voice to match. NIK is a young man full of raw talent, don’t miss this opportunity to support him at Abbey Fest 2013. www.facebook.com/nikloweofficial PURE ENTERTAINMENT ! YOU MUST BE THERE! |
 | 23.04.13 - NEW ACT ANNOUNCED - FRIDAY, 19TH JULY 2013 OEP Live ! are pleased to announce that the amazingly talented 13 year old Singer/Songwriter, Rhys Butterworth-Bowman who lives on the Suffolk/Essex borders and attends Stoke By Nayland Middle School, will be performing at Abbey Fest 2013 on Friday, 19th July 2013. 2012 was a very busy year for Rhys as his first single "Dreamland" was released on iTunes, he was the overall winner of Bures Music Festival 2012 and he opened for the dance act "Twist and Pulse” and made it through as a grand finalist of the national competition Open Mic Uk and won a place at the O2 Arena and performed there January this year. In March of this year Rhys released a song 'New Beginning' that he wrote produced and recorded in his own studio for a friend of his who has cancer. He wanted to help raise awareness for the Teenage Cancer Trust and since the release of the single in the first week he managed to raise well over £800.00 from selling physical copies and downloads, all profits are going to the charity. His performance of 'New Beginning' can be viewed by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7wpxp3vK2Q Could Rhys be the next offering from Suffolk for national recognition following on from Ed Sheeran !
MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON! PURE ENTERTAINMENT ! YOU MUST BE THERE ! |
 | 16.04.13 - ANNOUNCEMENT - SUNDAY, 21ST JULY 2013 OEP Live ! are pleased to announce that the audience gripping line-up for Sunday, 21st July 2013 at Abbey Fest 2013, Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds will be the legendary 10CC with an all hits concert, the world’s only official live Marc Bolan and T.Rex show – T.REXTASY and the ultimate One Direction act– ONLY ONE DIRECTION with further acts to be announced. 10CC - Among the most inventive and influential bands in the history of popular music, 10cc are one of the very few acts to have achieved commercial, critical and creative success in equal measure. Testament to 10cc’s ongoing appeal, the band can count a generation straddling array of fellow artists, everyone from Chrissie Hynde to The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie and Axl Rose to Sophie Ellis Bextor, among their many millions of fans. And now a new generation is discovering 10cc for the very first time. Some of their classic tracks include 'Dreadlock Holiday', 'I'm not in Love' and 'Rubber Bullets'. T.REXTASY - T.Rextasy have now been gigging around the world for over 20 years, a career that ironically out lives Marc’s very own T.Rex. The band are now accepted as the world’s only official live tribute band dedicated to Marc Bolan & T.Rex, and the only band endorsed and approved by Marc Bolan’s family, estate, original ex-members of T.Rex, and Bolan’s catalogue management. Due to their passion, musical ability, longevity, and attention to detail, the band is consistently described by many as ‘legendary’ and ‘beyond the boundaries of tribute’. ONLY ONE DIRECTION – THEY LOOK LIKE ONE DIRECTION AND SOUND LIKE ONE DIRECTION ! It’s – Only One Direction! From ONE DIRECTION’S first single in 2011 to making US music history, it’s safe to say One Direction are taking the world by storm. Capturing the energy and enthusiasm of the famous five, ONLY ONE DIRECTION show features hits from One Direction’s smash first album and iconic songs from their time on the X Factor. A MUST FOR ALL 1D FANS EVERYWHERE ! MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON! PURE ENTERTAINMENT ! YOU MUST BE THERE ! |
 | 02.04.13 - ANNOUNCEMENT - SATURDAY, 20TH JULY 2013 THE MIDSUMMER POP/SOUL PICNIC PARTY OEP Live ! are pleased to announce the outstanding first acts for Saturday, 20th July with more to follow. You won’t want to miss them! CHIC - LE FREAK,- There can be little argument that Chic are disco's greatest band. Le Freak C’est Chic, perform the ultimatee show to Chic and the music of Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards. Chic’s classic hits are performed in a funky, stylish way. Also included in the show are the associated projects Nile & Bernard created as producers/writers Namely, Sister Sledge - Diana Ross - David Bowie & Madonna. Le Freak C’est Chic call you to the dance floor, and deliver the goods, one dance smash single after another of the movement's defining anthems. From the beginning to end, this show is a template for how disco should be done. Hits include: “Everybody Dance”, “I’m Coming Out”, “We Are Family”, “Upside Down”, “Lost in Music”, “Le Freak” to name a few.
THE EDWIN STARR BAND featuring ANGELO STARR - This is a real exclusive appearance of Edwin Starr’s original band with ANGELO STARR brother of the late Edwin Starr. Seven on stage in a fantastic soul and Motown show which includes the Edwin Starr hits “25 MILES”, “STOP HER ON SIGHT”, “CONTACT” “HAPPY RADIO” and “WAR”, and other classics such as “MY GIRL” & “HIGHER & HIGHER” A must to see.
GWEN DICKEY (from Rose Royce) - Rose Royce were one of the biggest R&B bands in the 70’s & 80’s and Gwen Dickey was the lead singer. Beautiful and charismatic soul and R&B singer Gwen Dickey was discovered by the band Undisputed Truth singing in Miami, Florida in a local group called the Jewels. Dickey was subsequently chosen by legendary Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield to be the lead singer for the R&B outfit Rose Royce. Rose Royce had a massive #1 hit with the rousing and syncopated "Car Wash" in 1976. The group scored additional substantial R&B chart hits with such songs as "I Wanna Get Next to You," "I'm Going Down," "Do Your Dance," "Ooh Boy," "I'm in Love (And I Love the Feeling)," and "Wishing on a Star" throughout the late 70s. Gwen left Rose Royce in April, 1980 to pursue a solo career. In 1994 she joined forces with KWS on a cover of Chaka Khan's classic hit "Ain't Nobody." Dickey sang a duet with noted international rap star Jay-Z on a cover of Rose Royce's lovely and poignant soul gem "Wishing on a Star" in 1998; this particular song peaked at #13 on the UK charts the first week it was released as a single. Gwen sang vocals on the song "Flying" by Romeo for the soundtrack of the movie "Albeltje" in 1999. In the first half of 2001 she headlined a musical tour called What A Feeling which played in major theatres throughout England. Dickey opened for James Brown at the One Grand Prix ball in Monte Carlo and shared a bill with Meatloaf in Antwerp, Belgium for Night of the Proms to a sold out show for three nights that same year. In 2004 Gwen performed at the Glastonbury music festival in England. Dickey performed once again with James Brown at Monte Carlo for Formula 1 in 2005. Abbey Fest exclusively present GWEN DICKEY singing some of the millions selling hits mentioned above. GALAXY featuring PHIL FEARON - In the 80’s PHIL FEARON & GALAXY clocked up hit after hit. PHIL FEARON is back and this exclusive appearance will be an all hits show. “Dancing Tight”, “I Can Prove it”, “Wait Until Tonight (MY Love’)”, “What do I do”, “Aint Nothing but a House party” to mention but a few. Pure Classic Entertainment which will have you singing and dancing! GEORGE McCRAE - Flying in from Aruba in the Caribbean Only UK appearance this year will be at ABBEY FEST, the original 70’s disco star. “ROCK YOUR BABY” still holds the record for the biggest number of singles sold worldwide in the disco market. It was No. 1 in 40 countries. He also had seven other million selling hits including “It’s Been So Long”, “You Can Have It All”, “I Can’t Leave You Alone”. Its an all hit show not to be missed.
MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON! PURE ENTERTAINMENT ! YOU MUST BE THERE ! |
 | 12.03.13 - ANNOUNCEMENT - FRIDAY, 19th JULY 2013 OEP Live ! are pleased to announce that Abbeyfest 2013 will be returning for the third year running to Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds on 19th/20th/21st July 2013. We have a fantastic line-up arranged and are pleased to announce the first acts for Friday, 19th July with more to follow. You won’t want to miss them! CHAS & DAVE – the legendary Chas & Dave are back by demand of their loyal fans with Dave deciding to come out of retirement. Chas & Dave began writing and performing songs together in 1972, having been friends since the early sixties. They reached the top twenty in 1979 with “GERTCHA”, which became a nationwide catchphrase. This was followed by “THE SIDEBOARD SONG” (GOT MY BEER IN THE SIDEBOARD HERE). In 1980 they hit the charts with “RABBIT”, which reached No. 8 in the charts and a No. 2 record in 1982 “AIN’T NO PLEASING YOU”. This was followed by further hits “MARGATE”, &“LONDON GIRLS” In 1986 they had a top six record with “SNOOKER LOOPY”. They have also written title songs for TV shows ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ and ‘Only Fools & Horses’. Chas ‘n’ Dave are great musicians and know how to give an audience a good time. They have gained a cult audience of both young and old and due to public demand they are about to be seen together on stage once more. This a very special ‘all hits show. THE DUBLINERS ---A very special DUBLINER’s LEGENDS show– Featuring Cannon, Campbell, Watchorn & O’Connor . In 2012 The Dubliners celebrated 50 years on the road and were honoured by the BBC Folk Awards with a ‘lifetime Achievement Special Award’ but following the sudden death of founding member Barney McKenna and John Sheahan’s decision to retire it was agreed that The Dubliners, as a touring band, would come to an end. THE DUBLINER’S LEGEND Show features Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn & Gerry O’Conner, have over 60 years of performing with The Dubliners between them and will continue to play all the classic songs and ballads known the world over; Whiskey in The Jar, Dirty Old Town, The Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights, The Rare Auld Times, Molly Malone, The Irish Rover, Black Velvet Band & many more. This is the only Summer 2013 UK festival appearance so don’t miss this exclusive rare opportunity. KATE RUSBY BAND - ‘Everybody loves and respects Kate Rusby, not just for her lovely voice, but for the way she has moved folk forward while remaining true to tradition…’ The defining voice of contemporary English Folk Music, Kate Rusby’s exquisite interpretations of Traditional songs and finely wrought self-penned tunes have won her an audience that reaches beyond the genre. A rare achievement for a folk artist but entirely understandable given Rusby’s expressive vocals that invest whatever she sings with irresistible emotional depth. After celebrating twenty years in the music industry in 2012, Kate is taking a well earned rest from touring for the first half of the year concentrating on other projects. Summer 2013 sees her return to a few carefully selected festivals/outdoor concerts before embarking on her ever popular Autumn tour in mid September. As ever, Kate will be joined on stage by the cream of British folk musicians who form part of her band. Rusby’s wondrous singing and hugely engaging Yorkshire wit and the intuitive support of the band ensure that audiences will be treated to a truly remarkable and unforgettable concert experience. MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON! PURE ENTERTAINMENT ! YOU MUST BE THERE ! |
 | 10.03.13 - ABBEY FEST 2013 IS COMING We're pleased to announce that Abbey Fest returns to Bury St. Edmunds on 19-21 July 2013. Three days of world class entertainment will be brought to you in the setting of the beautiful Abbey Gardens. For those that attended last years' exceptional shows, it was without doubt the highlight of their year. A fantastic line-up is being prepared and full details will be announced very shortly. Stay tuned for more news... |
 | 01.07.11 - Ram Meadow car park to stay open until 12.30am Visitors to Abbey Fest will be pleased to know that the public car park at Ram Meadow, opposite the Abbey Gardens, will remain open until 12.30am for all three days of the event where it would normally close at 10.30pm |
 | 15.04.11 - AbbeyFest Website Launched We are delighted to launch the AbbeyFest website. Make sure you check back regularly to keep informed of latest news and developments with the festival. |