Scores of people queued on Margate seafront today (January 20) as DJ Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, and singer Suggs from huge 70s and 80s Ska band Madness gave out 100 free weekend passes to a new Dreamland festival.
The pair set up in a retro Dreamland ice cream van for the giveaway (ice creams included!) to launch the two day Hi Tide festival.
The event will have a massive 15,000 audience capacity and comes from the creators of the sell-out Demon Dayz Gorillaz gig in 2017.
Fatboy Slim and Madness headline the festival at Dreamland Margate on July 4-5. It is being staged in association with Fifty Six Group and is one highlight planned for Dreamland Margate’s 100th birthday celebrations.
DJ Fatboy Slim will bring his full stage extravaganza to Margate on July 4, with full supporting bill.
And on July 5, purveyors of quality music since 1979, the legendary Madness will bring the festival to a close with a full supporting bill.
Hi Tide will have two separate stages across the 15,000 capacity amusement park, with live artists, DJs and rides. The day admission ticket gives access to the whole experience and unlimited rides, plus all the bands and artists. Each day is a separate ticket, with the option of purchasing a weekend pass.
Tickets go on sale at hi-tidefestival.com at 9am on Friday, January 31.
There will be a local resident’s presale at 9am on Tuesday, January 28 and a Hi Tide presale at 9am on Wednesday, January 29.
The festival will be one of the headlines events helping to mark Dreamland Margate’s 100th anniversary in 2020, and will be the biggest music event that vintage amusement park has hosted since it reopened in 2015.
Dreamland CEO Eddie Kemsley said: “This is a going to be phenomenal event for Dreamland, and for the people of Kent. We are thrilled to present not one but two incredible headline artists over one epic weekend at our beautiful park in our centenary year. We can’t think of a better birthday party!
“We really pleased to be working with Fifty Six Group again, and to build on the amazing success of Demon Dayz. It’s going to be a big year for Margate.”
Fifty Six Group CEO Mags Revell added: “After Demon Dayz we really saw there was a need to bring a major festival to Margate and for the local Kent community. Hi Tide will become a yearly event that we hope will be taken into the hearts of the local community and in turn they will help us create its personality as it grows.”
Prices
Saturday or Sunday (individual day tickets) £72.50 each plus booking/transaction fees for priority entry on Saturday or Sunday inclusive of unlimited rides
Weekend tickets £130 plus booking/transaction fees for a priority entry weekend ticket (Saturday & Sunday) inclusive of unlimited rides
The supporting bill will be announced next week.