The Phoenix Festival was set up by John Vincent Power[1] of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals. It was held at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon and was one of the first four-day festivals in Britain.
The first year of the festival (1993) featured headline performances by Sonic Youth, Hole, Faith No More and The Black Crowes, and included other notable acts such as Manic Street Preachers, Julian Cope, The Young Gods and House of Pain. However, the event was marred by controversy. Travelers refused free entry, blocked the entrance meaning many spent their Friday night in their vehicles in long queues. Festival goers were made to put out camp fires and turn off sound systems at midnight. These rules were in contrast to the 24-hour culture of the Glastonbury Festival, with which many of those present at Phoenix were familiar. There were even demands for refunds, and the festival's reputation was marred from the outset. The enforcement of these rules by security staff led to many of the festival goers showing their displeasure in no uncertain terms.Fencing and light rigs were toppled, fires set and physical clashes between festival goers and security staff also occurred.
The festival never really recovered from its poor reception, and although it attracted consistently popular acts, festival goers were less than happy with the site (an old airstrip) and there were also complaints about the prices on site. Such were the problems with security that when the Big Top managed by experimental theatre company 'Dancin Dog' was three times over capacity no staff were available to remedy the situation leading to fights between performers and audience and artists unable to leave the stage resulting in crowds demanding more for several hours and performers continuing until they collapsed from exhaustion and in fear for their lives.
Problems with the event reached a climax in 1996 when many festival goers missed David Bowie on the Thursday night due to problems letting people on site. Having sold out that year for the first time, due to the Glastonbury Festival taking its usual year off (once in every five years in a cycle), the organisers struggled to cope with the crowds and extreme heat. Temperatures on site exceeded thirty degrees Celsius on all days. The weekend was further marred with problems with water being unavailable in parts of the site. The event was notable for the fact that the Sex Pistols headlined their first major UK festival that weekend.
The festival continued for one more year but could never compete with its main rival, the Glastonbury Festival. The 1998 Phoenix event was cancelled due to poor ticket sales,[2] but some acts were moved to that year's Reading Festival.
In July 2011, Vince Power announced his intention to resurrect the festival in his introduction to the programme of the Hop Farm Festival. Power wrote: "For those of you who remember the Phoenix Festival, it's my intention to resurrect this festival next year as Glastonbury is taking a break."
The 1993 Phoenix was held from 16 to 18 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
| Phoenix Stage | |||
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic Youth Julian Cope The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy Parliament-Funkadelic (No Show - House Of Pain played this slot) Hole The Fatima Mansions The God Machine Jacob's Mouse | Faith No More House of Pain The Young Gods Björn Again Fun-Da-Mental Consolidated That Petrol Emotion New Fast Automatic Daffodils Silverfish Die Cheerleader | The Black Crowes Pop Will Eat Itself Living Colour Manic Street Preachers Yothu Yindi Helmet Mercury Rev Bad Religion Hyperhead CNN | |
| Zine Stage | |||
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Buzzcocks The Family Cat Pulp The Funking Barstewards Eat The Pooh Sticks The Hair and Skin Trading Company Energy Orchard Ringo | Billy Bragg The Men They Couldn't Hang Martin Stephenson Red Devils Trash Can Sinatras The Fat Lady Sings Pele The Tansads Velocity Girl Nervous | The Wedding Present Thousand Yard Stare Los Lobos Ian McNabb A House Rainer Kinky Machine Molly Half Head The New Cranes | |
| Jazzterrania Stage | |||
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Taylor Quartet Courtney Pine The Pharcyde Mother Earth Jason Rebello Vibe Tribe | Gil Scott-Heron And The Amnesia Express Jamiroquai The Sandals Corduroy Keziah Jones Cypress Hill John Coltrane Tribute | Gangstarr Quartet with Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers Steve Williamson's That Fuss Was Us Jazz Jamaica Urban Species Snowboy & The Latin Section Secret Society | |
The 1994 Phoenix was held from 14 to 17 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
| Phoenix Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stage closed | The Wonder Stuff Carter USM The Fall Squeeze The Posies Jah Wobble The Goats Fun-Da-Mental Whiteout | Paul Weller Pop Will Eat Itself Ozric Tentacles Crash Test Dummies Gil Scott-Heron Senseless Things Urban Dance Squad The Sandals Baby Chaos The Red Devils | Iggy Pop Therapy? Ned's Atomic Dustbin Killing Joke Buzzcocks Magnapop The Family Cat NOFX Blaggers ITA | |
| Vox Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Clail On U Sound System Bim Sherman Little Axe Adrian Sherwood | The Pogues John Cale Kirsty MacColl Tom Robinson The Trash Can Sinatras David Gray The Coalporters Ben Harper | The Beautiful South The Blue Aeroplanes Terry Hall The Divine Comedy Eddi Reader The Bible My Life Story MarionCast Thrum | Inspiral Carpets Renegade Soundwave A House Mother Earth The Grid Beat Traders A Certain Ratio Suns of Arqa Youthu Yindi Terry Edwards Baby Chaos | |
| Melody Maker Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgy Astralasia T.Rextasy | Spiritualized Stereolab Bark Psychosis Moonshake Golden Claw Radial Spangle ROC Drugstore Puppy Love Bomb Skunk Anansie | Back To The Planet Swervedriver Mega City Four These Animal Men Voodoo Queens Gunshot The Muddie Funksters Dub War Rub Ultra Done Lying Down Tribute To Nothing | Shellac Girls Against Boys Brick Layer Cake The Raincoats The Pastels Bailterspace Tsunami Mambo Taxi AC Acoustics | |
| Jazzterania Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incognito Urban Species Raw Stylus Ian & Rob | Donald Byrd Courtney Pine Greg Osby Freakpower Ian & Rob | Galliano Snowboy Fishbelly Black Vibe Tribe | Herbie Hancock Roy Ayers Corduroy D*Note Jhelisa | |
| Loaded Comedy Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Sidebottom John Shuttleworth Kevin Day Ian Cognito Phil Kay Martin Coyote Mike Hayley Andre Vincent Ardal O'Hanlon | Mark Thomas Jeff Green Rubber Bishops Man with Beard Sean Connery Brotherhood Alistair MacGowan Dave Spikey | Lee Evans Mark Steel Mark Hurst Lee Hurst Linda Smith Dominic Holland Hattie Hayridge | Eddie Izzard Richard Moton Attila the Stockbroker Sean Meo Simon Bligh Fred MacAulay Paul Tonkinson John Moloney Rhona Cameron | |
The 1995 Phoenix was held from 13 to 16 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.[3] [4]
| Phoenix Stage (host & DJ: Jo Whiley) | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stage closed | Suede Bob Dylan Tricky Van Morrison The Fall The Wedding Present Chumbawamba Salad Velvet Crush | Faith No More Public Enemy Terrorvision Paradise Lost Body Count Ice-T EMF Senseless Things (no-show) Gallon Drunk Shootyz Groove Pitchshifter | Paul Weller Brand New Heavies Warren G (no-show) George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic The Charlatans Underworld Spearhead Credit to the Nation Marion | |
| Melody Maker Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootsy Collins Prophets of Da City | Aztec Camera Edwyn Collins | Spiritualized Electric Mainline The Verve The High Llamas (replaced Nitzer Ebb) Man or Astroman? AC Acoustics Gorky's Zygotic Mynci | The Wildhearts (no-show) Biohazard Dog Eat Dog Honeycrack Shudder to Think Joyrider Schtum | |
| Kiss 100 Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gil Scott-Heron | Galliano Normski | Guru's Jazzmatazz MC 900 Ft. Jesus | James Taylor Quartet Jessica Lauren | |
| Megadog Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Orb | Underworld The Chemical Brothers | Eat Static Conemelt | Trans-Global Underground African Headcharge | |
| Comedy Tent | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily Savage | Lee Evans John Otway | Mark Lamarr | Frank Sidebottom | |
The 1996 Phoenix Festival was held from 18 to 21 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.[5]
| Phoenix Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Bowie The Prodigy Gene Frank Black Placebo Kenickie | Neil Young and Crazy Horse Alanis Morissette Manic Street Preachers Foo Fighters Dodgy The Wildhearts Beck The Flaming Lips Ian McNabb Fun Lovin' Criminals | Björk Massive Attack Cypress Hill Skunk Anansie Stereolab Genius/GZA The Wannadies Guru's Jazzmatazz Ruby Cecil | Sex Pistols Terrorvision Echobelly The Fall Marion Coolio The Cardigans Drugstore Honeycrack Linoleum | |
| Megadog Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leftfield Banco de Gaia Zion Train Asian Dub Foundation | Carl Cox The Prodigy CJ Bolland System 7 Hardfloor Darren Emerson Earth Nation Outer Active Alabama 3 J Pac | Grooverider Goldie Fabio Lionrock Red Snapper LTJ Bukem Spring Heel Jack Baby D Nicolette Andrew Weatherall Lamb | Ingrid Schroeder The Chemical Brothers Spooky William Orbit Slab The Aloof James Lavelle Interact | |
| Jazz Café Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incognito Courtney Pine Raw Stylus Earthling Big Cheese All Stars | Guru's Jazzmatazz Corduroy Dirty Dozen Brass Band Nightmares on Wax Weldon Irvine Snowboy & The Latin Section Smith & Mighty The Brotherhood | Us3 Moloko Mother Earth Jazz Passengers feat. Debbie Harry Terry Callier Dee C Lee Jazz Co Tech Dancers Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers Eusebe | James Taylor Quartet The Pharcyde Ben Harper Me'shell The Specials Maxwell Monday Michiru Attica Blues | |
The 1997 Phoenix Festival was held from 17 to 20 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.[6] "David Bowie requested some odd items on his Phoenix rider but came close to not getting a few," recalled promoter Neil Pengelly. "An urgent, eleventh-hour delivery of his bullworker and carrot juicer required a dash through the arena in a golf cart – not a problem until a plucky punter nicked the cart from under the nose of the briefly distracted driver. A Benny Hill-style chase ended when the man dumped the cart and ran off into the crowd. Adding insult to injury, three girls spotted the key still in the cart and ram-raided the cigarette stall."[7]
| Main Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Grape Skunk Anansie Fun Lovin' Criminals De La Soul Asian Dub Foundation | The Charlatans The Lightning Seeds Shed Seven Teenage Fanclub The Wannadies Beth Orton Morcheeba Hurricane#1 Sussed | Jamiroquai Gabrielle US3 ABC Olive Lamb Corduroy The Prisoners Groove Connection | David Bowie Orbital Texas Faith No More Billy Bragg 3 Colours Red Catatonia Apollo 440 Arkarna | |
| Guardian Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiritualized Strangelove Gorky's Zygotic Mynci Madder Rose Soul Coughing Warm Jets | Rollins Band Republica Lionrock Embrace Travis Lo Fidelity Allstars Gold Blade Smaller Broadcast Mogwai Midget Libido | Aphex Twin Sneaker Pimps 60ft Dolls Subcircus Laika The Candyskins David Devant & His Spirit Wife Linoleum Stereophonics One Inch Punch Jolt | Sinéad O'Connor Shane MacGowan My Life Story Drugstore Luna Urusei Yatsura 18 Wheeler Arnold Mantaray Baby Fox London Community Gospel Choir | |
| Mean Fiddler Stage | ||||
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Specials Afro-Celt Sound System Bhundu Boys The Radiators Otis, Ed & Ben | Red House Painters Link Wray Edward Ball Nervous Elliot Green Coade Garageland White Buffalo Dream City Film Club The Candidates The Hitchers Sintra Hank Dogs Hugger Mugger | Gallon Drunk AC Acoustics Dr Robert Dharmas Gretschen Hofner The Diggers The Smiles The Kaisers Simon Warner My Friend The Chocolate Cake Comfort Dakota Suite The Hormones Pregnant | The Saw Doctors Transglobal Underground Moodswings Dr Didg Sirenes Rev Hammer Sara Sara Mary Coughlan Duncan Sheik Jel Loot Competition Winner Baby On Board | |
