On Sunday, 27th August, Chilcompton Sports Club paid host to the first ever Chilcompton Fringe Festival, and was declared officially open by none other than Glastonbury Festival founder, Michael Eavis.

Appearing at the event with his two young grandchildren, Michael Eavis took to the stage at 11.30 a.m. to open the festival.

In a short speech that referenced his experience of Glastonbury Festival’s early days, he concluded with: “Everything starts at the beginning; and this is the beginning for you people – and next year I shall see you again! Good luck, have a wonderful, wonderful time, and congratulations – I wish you every success.”

The event took place from 11.30 a.m. to 11 p.m, and included drama and musical theatre from Exit Stage Left, and authors, including Jenny Kane, Jennifer Ash, Tracey Norman, Chris Tetrault-Blay, Richard Dee and Mark Norman, as well as poetry by P.J. Reed and Trina J. Stacey. There were also a number of informative literary workshops that took place throughout the afternoon.

Split between the main stage and the marquee dubbed ‘The Plateau’, a variety of musical acts performed throughout the day, including, ‘Shake the Tree’, ‘Hurry Up Harry’, ‘Real Life’, ‘Hidden Gentlemen’, ‘Parfanon’, ‘The Venezuelan Pig Rustlers’, ‘200 Hurts’, Helena, ‘No Thursday War’, ‘Ninotchka’, and the Mendip Brass Band, amongst others.

Giles Harrod, a spokesperson for the event, said: “The idea was that we would open up the facility to a broader community – this has always been a sports facility, but we have never done much from a cultural perspective.

“We opened the club room up some months ago for a music night, which is now held on the first Saturday of every month, and this event was a natural progression from that.

“The idea of this, really, is that we can start to promote music and performing arts within this immediate community, and beyond, and today we have got people from as far away as Ilfracombe, South Wales, and bands from around the area coming in to see us and play.

“Michael Eavis did a brilliant job opening the Festival and it is fantastic that Michael came to open the event for us; it gave everyone involved a real boost!”

The event is expected to be taking place next year on the August Bank Holiday once more.