I've just seen that it's been almost a year since I last posted a blog update! I have to apologise for neglecting this page! There's a load of stuff that I should have mentioned, so I'm going to try to update you all as quickly and concisely as I can.

First things first, the Spring Fling was a blast and a great way to kick off Upton's festival season early. We had dozens of fantastic bands jamming out in a dozen fantastic venues, grooving and shaking away the last of the winter chill. We ran a great little contest where visitors could buy wristbands and be entered into a raffle, with prizes such as meals and hotel stays being offered by local venues and businesses. It was  loads of fun and an optimistic start to what would have been a great  festival season. 

What happened next doesn't need much of an introduction.  The following weekend, the UK was plunged into total lockdown as the number of Covid-19 cases began to surge. The months that followed were something of a blur for us, as there seemed to be little hope for live music making a quick return.

Despite brief respite in the late-summer months, we are practically in the same situation now as we were then. Restrictions are tightening on many parts of the UK and planning live music events seems fruitless and irresponsible. Because of this, our team has decided to cancel the upcoming Oktoberfest, instead turning our heads towards planning for next year. Although we don't know for sure how long these restrictions will last, we've decided to keep the ball rolling with various ideas on how Upton48 can return in 2021. I have little to report on the subject for now, but I'll certainly try harder to keep the site and socials updated where possible. 

Our team would like to thank everyone who attended the Spring Fling and made it such a successful event. We'd also like to encourage everyone to keep washing their hands, wearing their masks and keeping their distance wherever possible. The sooner we manage to get in control of this virus, the sooner we can party on!

Cheers again, festival-goers!

It's been an exciting month for the Upton48 team, with plans in full swing for March's Spring Fling! In late October, our chair met with Malvern Hills District Council to discuss potential funding for promotional materials. We are pleased to say that the talk was a success, so keep an eye out for Upton48's banners and flyers appearing in the coming months!

The date and time of our Spring Fling has been confirmed, starting on Friday 13th March at 7pm and concluding 48 hours later on Sunday 15th. Across these two days, each of our venues will feature between three and five bands. Several venues will offer specific genres to the public - as of writing this update, Bar Severn has been confirmed as the festival's official rock venue! Other confirmed venues include The Swan, The Anchor, The Boathouse, The King's Head and The White Lion. A provisional list of to-be-confirmed venues can be found on our website.

Arrangements are being made to introduce Upton48 wristbands for festival-goers. These wristbands will be optional and will allow for discounts in participating venues. The money made from these wristbands will go towards expanding and improving Upton48's future festivals!

If you own a local business and would be interested in working with us, feel free to contact us via our Facebook page.

To keep up-to-date with festival announcements, you can follow Upton48 and its participating venues on Facebook. We look forward to seeing you in the spring!