Spalding Festival set to be bigger and better this year under XO owner Matt Clark

A town businessman is taking the reins at a popular beer and music festival and is encouraging further sponsors and volunteers to get involved.

This year’s Spalding Festival at Castle Sports Centre in Spalding looks set to bring the wow factor having already announced Liberty X as one of the headlining acts - with more to be revealed.

Matt Clark, chairman of Spalding and District Round Table and owner of XO club in the town, is keen to bring his creative skills and contacts to make this year’s festival bigger and better.

He said: As most people know locally, I have a passion for and a strong link to music and especially nightclubs.

“As such we have teamed up with some amazing local and regional DJ talent including promoter Arc presents, to add a dance arena, Cadence, for the first time this year.

“This area will be enhanced by work from graffiti artists and the arena has spectacular lighting, sound and video as any nightclub.”

The festival has been running since 2016 in collaboration with Spalding Ladies Circle members and is a staple in the South Holland events calendar and a critical fundraiser for charity.

Mr Clark has in the past run boxing fundraising dinner events raising in excess of £100,000 in the process.

The entrepreneur has been a driving factor of the festival event since its inception, holding the post of deputy event organiser and premises licence holder.

However he will be leaving the Round Table next year so intends to lead this festival from the front.

He said: “Due to an age restriction rule in our organisation, sadly I will be leaving Table after next year.

“I simply couldn’t go without adding my own stamp on our current fundraising event.

“We have a great team of Tablers and Circlers onboard and we are focused on delivering the biggest fundraiser in Lincolnshire and I hope to leave a legacy for future years.”

This year’s event will be outdoors on the sports field and will features fun rides all ages, themed and real ale bars, Imaginarium Bar horse box and street food vendors.

There will be sweet stalls, carnival games, glitter and face painters, festival clothing stalls, arts and craft stands, circus entertainers, charity stands, robots, performances from local school groups, musical and dance artists.

Mr Clark said: “There is a new community stage, which will have a chic village carnival feel adorned with bunting and straw bales, alongside kiddy rides and cinema screen.

“Our main stage is going to be just wow and hosting much bigger acts than ever before.”

Further information is promised to be revealed regarding the main stage lineup.

The family friendly festival will have free entry for younger children accompanied by an adult and tickets are available for £10.50 for aged 14 and over.

Volunteers are encouraged to step forward and apply to help on the gate, the bar, the token sales or stewarding throughout the weekend.

Bakkavor is the main sponsor - and due to the increase in size - there are additional opportunities still available for businesses to get involved.

Interested parties can email Matt Clark at m.clark@spaldingroundtable.co.uk or, for barrel sponsorship, visit the website for information.

Tickets and volunteer forms for the festival that takes place May 24-26 are available on the website www.spaldingfestival.co.uk.

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