Blam: Let's start with the festival's past - the first Sussex Solstice was in Sussex and on the Solstice - hence it's name, am I right?Simon: This is the first SS but we did help promote another smaller festival called Bur-Fest last year (in Burwash) that was a musical and creative success. The day was a mixture of local covers and professional originals acts that appealed to families and music fans alike. This was the first event we have been involved in and the plan was to create something larger but with the same format this year. The Forum were due to come and run our beer tent and acoustic stage but unfortunately Sussex Solstice was stopped by a local resident who we simply didn't have the resources to fight against. The Forum very kindly stepped in though and offered us the chance to resurrect the festival.

Blam: Proof Blam! isn't always right then but lovely that you have now moved to The Forum, and re-drawing the old county boundaries (which give us "The Sussex Arms" pub in The Pantiles) do you know the history of the Kent/Sussex border?Simon: As long time Kent/Sussex border residents (I'm from Burwash and Mark from Heathfield) I've always seen T Wells as my local town, in fact I used to live just over the road from The Forum in the late 1990's. Until the boundary changes were made some years ago The Forum was in fact in the historical county of Sussex as the Boundary stone is laid at the Church of King Charles the Martyr. The whole Kent/Sussex rivalry thing is something of a running joke to those of a certain age but I love both counties and having our festival in T Wells is personally very special for me.

Blam: What are your backgrounds with the music industry/scene? Mark: My musical taste is varied from MASSIVE ATTACK and Dub influenced trance music to BLACK SABBATH and a swerve to PINK FLOYD and MARILLION. Simon has eclectic taste too and this is reflected in our choices for the line-up. While we are both rockers at heart, we have got experience of festivals and both would like a relaxed and chilled out vibe to pervade the day. Most importantly we want to promote original artists and musical integrity and this is at the forefront of what we are trying to achieve with Sussex Solstice and Sanctuary Media.Simon: We are both huge music fans and of an age (we are in our 40's) where we grew up listening to some amazing bands. In the late 70's I was turned onto music by the likes of ADAM ANT, THE SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH and THE STRANGLERS, I later became obsessed with THE CULT and in the 90's it was the grunge and alternative rock scene. Rock music has been omnipresent my whole life (I'm also in a covers band myself) and it's this passion that sees us both at The Forum putting Sussex Solstice on.

Blam: The line-up for Sussex Solstice isn't all rock though, and looks like it will appeal to a wide audience How did you pick the acts.... some are familiar (eg SEAN DE BURCA) but some are less well known 'here' (eg SOUTH OF SATURN) ? Simon: We are aiming at a wide audience although primarily we are focusing on a prog/blues and indie kind of vibe away from standard classic rock, difficult to be specific these days as classic rock is such a general term. PEARL HANDLED

REVOLVER are kind of our totem band, they sit perfectly with what we are trying to achieve, its intelligent, powerful and thought provoking music..Think THE DOORS crossed with PINK FLOYD and LED ZEP.We are both regulars at the legendary Six Bells at Chiddingly which has bands every Friday and Saturday night, SOS are one band we picked up on last year, they are all very young and talented guys from the Eastbourne area who do covers and originals. THE ENGLISH ROGUES are another Six Bells regular but have been going for many years and we wanted to cross the generation gap by adding them. PAUL NEWSOME is a gold selling artist who is good friends with NOEL GALLAGHER and ELIZABETH CANEY is from Etchingham, she has been playing guitar on world tour with CHARLI XCX, they are both friend of Marks (along with PHR). In terms of high quality original musicians and covers bands we think its a perfect mix.Mark: PAUL NEWSOME has just come off tour supporting the HIGH FLYING BIRDS and is going back on tour with them in the autumn. Elizabeth should sell out the festival on her own, you will be awestruck at her talent and STEVEN YOUNG is right up there with the Islington set, friends with Kate Moss and Meg Matthews. PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER, as Simon says, are the epitome of our crossover tastes, covering hard blues, prog and powerful dynamics all in one bandthey have to be seen...

Blam: . and will you be making use of The Forum garden space as well as inside?Simon: Yes we will be using The Forum garden for an acoustic stage, weather permitting !! We hope to add a few more acts as well..

Blam: So, quality music, plus food and drink available, it's quite a bargain for 15 you have a facebook page http://tinyurl.com/ngtwtaj where people can ask you questions directly and a link to tickets at http://tinyurl.com/pm9xvdq - but is there anything else you'd like to say? Simon: Just to add this is hopefully just the start of our music promotion lives and hope to put many more events on in the future, we are also still looking for some talented local acoustic acts (that includes Kent!!!) to add to the bill. All interested artists should apply to info@sussexsolstice.co.uk

SIMON OAKLEY

MARK CAMPBELL