Sham Rocks Festival: Our Dream Became Reality

What started as a rain-soaked dream at Fawcett's Field has become the incredible reality we always knew it could be. Our inaugural Sham Rocks festival welcomed nearly 2,500 music lovers to New Milton for a weekend that exceeded every expectation we dared to have.

​

Years ago, I sat in that very field during a downpour, looking around and saying, "One day we'll put a festival on here." It seemed impossible then, but dreams have a way of finding their path when you surround yourself with the right people. Our core team of Emer Druce, Samantha Cartwright and Clive Leighton at Firefly Festivals shared that vision completely, and together we've created something truly special for our community.

​

The Music That Made It Magic

Our tribute line-up was carefully curated to celebrate the artists who've shaped our musical landscape. Saturday evening's headliner Flash as Queen absolutely brought the house down, while Are You Ready For Love, featuring Charles Duke and his band's Elton John tribute, had the entire crowd singing along. We were thrilled to showcase Vicky Cluskey's stunning Madonna performance, Maybe Gaga's electrifying Lady Gaga tribute, and Juno Rising's powerful take on Alanis Morrissette.

​

One of our proudest innovations was the GiG Bar area, featuring our "future headliner" stage dedicated to original music. We created this space specifically as a meeting ground where up-and-coming talent could connect with industry professionals such as agents, promoters, and music business veterans. Watching our incredible local talent perform was everything we hoped it would be.

​

Family entertainment was at the heart of our festival vision. Music from The Movies and The Ogretones' Shrek performances ensured that parents and children could create lasting memories together, reminding us why we call this a truly family-friendly event.

​

Building Our Festival Family

One of the most exciting developments has been connecting with fellow festival organisers from events like Shynefest and Grub and Groove. These conversations have sparked our plans for a "festival family," which is a network of independent events supporting each other and offering discounted tickets to our communities.

​

We're incredibly grateful to New Milton Town Council for their unwavering support and to every single person who came along and helped make our weekend so magical. The enthusiasm from our community has been overwhelming, and we're already deep in planning for next year's festival, scheduled for May 16-17, 2026.

​

We're actively seeking local sponsors and businesses who want to be part of our growing festival family. This isn't just about sponsorship; it's about joining a community-driven movement that's enriching New Milton's cultural landscape. What we've started here will continue to grow, bringing more music, more joy, and more connection to New Milton. Thank you to everyone who believed in our dream and helped make it reality.

​

The complete story of how Sham Rocks came together, featuring insights from our performers, behind-the-scenes moments, and the full lineup that made this weekend unforgettable, offers a deeper look into what made our inaugural festival such a remarkable celebration of music and community spirit.