Everything You NEED To KNOW About NOZFEST 2023

The time will soon be upon us!! So, I better give you guys the low down before it’s too late 😉
Some of you regular Nozzers will already know the drill, but may need a little reminding. The rest of you will be new Nozzers, and may need a little info to help you get the best out of your Nozfest experience ❤
Please also note that Nozfest 2023 is SOLD OUT.

TICKETS & WRISTBANDS
You will need to bring an email, whether that is on your phone or printed, copy of the tickets that you purchased. If you’ve lost them, we still will have your name on the door so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. This is a wristbanded event, so once you have had your tickets checked, you’ll be given a wristband which will allow you entry in and out of the venue during the day, so please do wear this ALL day.
If you are arriving on a guest list, you will just need to state your name and whose list you are on. You will not need a pass, and you’ll be given a wristband to access the festival. Bands, press, and staff will require a pass and this will need to be kept with you at all times – you will not require a wristband if you have a pass. Only bands will be issued with AAA passes also.
**Remember this is also a family friendly festival, so little ones are allowed, however under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.**

TIMES & STAGE TIMES
So, the lovely doors will be opening to everyone at 12:30pm! and the first band will take to the stage at 1pm.
We advise that you do get down early, not only to make the most of the day and to get yourself settled, but also because there isn’t a band on this line-up you’ll want to miss, and it’s expected to be quite a busy day because of that.
1pm – Vambo
2pm – Black Lakes
3pm – White Raven Down
4pm – Sam Millar & The Sass Bandits
5pm – These Wicked Rivers
6pm – Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters
7pm – South Of Salem
8pm – Collateral
9pm – Hollowstar
10pm – Chez Kane
All bands have a 45min set, with a 15min break between each band. Chez Kane is headlining so her set length is an hour, meaning Nozfest will finish at 11pm.
There is a sound curfew, so when leaving the venue late at night please try to keep the noise to a minimum if possible 🙂
Feel free to screen shot these set times.

MERCHANDISE
Of course there will be merchandise available on the day. Every band has their own allocated merchandise stall/stand located on the balcony. Because of this we need as much space on the balcony as possible, so feel free to go up there and check out the stalls, get your photo with bands and have a chat, but please do not stay up there. The balcony is for VIP’s and for bands.
Along with the bands having merchandise, Nozfest will also have a merch stall where anyone who has pre-ordered a shirt will be able to collect on the day, and posters will also be available too.

SEATING
People who have requested reserved seating, will have allocated seating areas. They won’t be named by person, but there is plenty enough for everyone who has requested, so please share these areas. Please do not sit in a reserved seating area unless you have reserved a seat.
There will also be other seating around the venue, including in the bar area and also downstairs. Please make the most of these areas.
There is plenty of space, to sit, stand, mingle, observe etc. Please note also not to obstruct any fire escapes, as we do need those in case of an emergency. Also be respectful to the press and media areas as people with cameras will be going back and forth.

PARKING
If you are travelling to the festival by vehicle, then the postcode you will need is: SO14 3AR.
The parking located to the side and directly outside the venue is reserved for bands and staff specifically. However, there may be a few spaces left here and there if you get down early enough. Please be aware that we do need these areas to help with a smooth, quick and easy load-in.
However, there are other car parks located around that include multi-storey.

TRANSPORT
If you are travelling to us via public transport, the best train station to get to is of course Southampton Central. If you are taking the bus, the best bet would be to catch a bus from Central Station to Holyrood Church (U1C bus line). Alternatively, you can walk from the train station to The 1865, Brunswick Square, but it is roughly a 20min walk.

ACCOMMODATION
There are a few hotels close by to the venue, including a Premier Inn and Travelodge. Alternatively there are other hotels around such as The Moxy, Holiday Inn, Leonardo Hotel, Ibis, The Star Hotel, Novotel and many more. Of course you can also search for one that suits you. You can also consider an Air B&B.

FOOD
As many of you are aware, we do seem to have issues with the food van each year. I cannot specify at this time whether there will 100% be a food van this year, but if there is, it’ll be located in the smoking area. However, we are close to several other food places including a fish ‘n’ chip shop which has become very popular with us Nozzers! The venue is also located just off of the main town, so we are close by to many other fast food outlets including KFC, Taco Bell, Whetherspoons, McDonalds and Burger King.

TAXIS
If you will be needing taxis to and from the event etc, there are a few which we know of that operate around Southampton. These include: Aero Taxis Southampton Ltd, Southampton Taxis, Cab My Ride, Freedom Cabs, Bitterne Cars Ltd and Alicia’s Cars Southampton Taxi’s. I’m also pretty sure that Uber also operates in the area too.

AFTER PARTY?
Will there be an after party? We are currently unsure, however we usually head over to the Firehouse after Nozfest has finished, this is located in Southampton Centre down the highstreet, about a 15 minute walk from the venue, and it stays open till late. So if we will be anywhere, it’ll most likely be there. However, please feel free to go on to any other bar or club which you’d like to. There is The Heartbreakers just around the corner from the 1865.

If you have any other questions, please do get in touch with us, either on Facebook through the Nozfest page or group, and of course you can email us too at nozfest@yahoo.com.
We hope this info pack finds you well, and helps you to plan a very enjoyable day. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

While I’m here, I’d also like to thank my Nozfest team who work extremely hard on the day to make sure everything runs perfect. You guys are amazing, unsung hero’s and I appreciate all you do, so thank you! You know who you are 🙂

You can check out Nozfest on socials below:
INSTAGRAM: Nozfest
FACEBOOK: Nozfest
FB GROUP: Nozfest
WEBSITE: www.nozfest.org
YOUTUBE: JodieBowie

See you soon

Jodie x ❤ x

Gigs Coming Up On The SOUTH COAST You Should ATTEND

SO! Gigs are potentially going to be a thing again!! HALLELUJAH!!! Some are of course still going to be socially distanced and restricted… but some could be genuinely normal! To celebrate the occasison I’m listing a few gigs I think you should attend in the South Coast area (Bournemouth/Southampton) that are coming up in 2021.

Most of these events are New Wave of Classic Rock Bands, and they mostly take place in Southampton!
Tickets to all the events are listed under each event – just click on the blue link 🙂

STOP, STOP! (The 1865)
Friday 21st May
This show just so happens to be the re-opening of The 1865 in Southampton, as it’ll be the first gig that takes place after the Lockdown 3.0! So that’s reason enough to come down and support live music and music venues… BUT… not only is it a re-opening show, it is a Stop, Stop! show, with support from Spyder Byte! Stop, Stop! also have an album coming out 1st May, so this’ll be a chance to catch some of the songs in the flesh, fresh off the CD press.
Tickets

KING CREATURE (The 1865)
Sunday 23rd May
If you like your heavier rock and metal, then this is a gig you’re going to want to get yourself to! It is of course another social distanced show, but that isn’t an issue with bands of this calibre on the bill.
Tickets

GIN ANNIE (The 1865)
Saturday 5th June
Gin Annie are headlining a Rock Night down at The 1865 in Southampton – with support from some pretty sweet bands, Gallows Circus and Crooked Shapes. That’s one tasty NWOCR line-up if you ask me! I’d grab some tickets while there is still some hanging about 😉
Tickets

SKINNY KNOWLEDGE (Canvas)
Friday 9th July
This will be the bands debut live show! So that is already one heck of a reason to get yourself down to Canvas in Bournemouth – I’m also going to assume it’ll be their album launch show too, so it is practically two-in-one. I believe Black Tree Vultures are the support band, and this will be the perfect time to catch their new line-up.
Tickets

The Treatment – Headliners at Nozfest 2021

NOZFEST (The 1865)
Saturday 14th August
Ah yes! Nozfest is BACK!! This line-up is slightly different to the one originally planned for 2020, but it is still a cracker! The headliners for the night are The Treatment, who will have just released their new album, with support from Mason Hill who’s debut album is currently making waves. This event features 10 of the very best up and coming New Wave of Classic Rock and is one not to be missed. This event is family friendly at kicks off at 12:30pm.
Tickets

THE QUIREBOYS (The 1865)
Thursday 2nd September
Oh it’s 7 o’clock… you know what that means? It’s time for a party!! The Quireboys have been around since 1984, and they still know how to bring the fun – the show no signs of slowing down. I definitely recommend getting down to this show, especially if you are a sucker for 80’s music.
Tickets

LA GUNS (Engine Rooms)
Thursday 9th September
These real life 80’s legends are making a beeline down to the South Coast for a show in Southampton! These guys are original rock ‘n’ rollers and are a total treat to watch – so it’ll be a show not worth missing in my opinion.
Tickets

MASSIVE WAGONS (Engine Rooms)
Wednesday 15th September
Another exciting treat for those who live their New Wave of Classic Rock! The one and only Massive Wagons are coming to Southampton on their ‘House of Noise’ tour, and their support is no other than an equally awesome band… The Lazy’s! I cannot express enough how awesome this show is going to be. It is going to blow your mind!
Tickets

CATS IN SPACE (Engine Rooms)
Thursday 16th September
This awesome band was formed in 2015 by Greg Hart and Steevi Bacon. If you like your rock and power pop, then this band will be one for you. They’ve supported bands such as The Sweet, Bonnie Tyler & Status Quo as well as being added to the BST Hyde Park Phil Collins line-up in 2017.
Tickets

INGLORIOUS (Engine Rooms)
Sunday 19th September
Heading out on tour for the release of their album ‘We Will Ride’, you can catch this band in Southampton. Inglorious are a band who shouldn’t be missed! They bring epic rock and roll tunes alongside immense professional performances, making them a really sought after band. Nathan’s vocals are absolutely stunning and will blow your mind every single time.
Tickets

MASON HILL (The Joiners)
Tuesday 21st September
Catch this band down South on their debut album “Against The Wall” tour. I believe their support/special guests for this show are the awesome young band Hollowstar. Again, I really urge you to get down and see this band – they are absolutely incredible and if you have a chance to see them live, you should do it!!
Tickets

WILDHEARTS (Engine Rooms & Madding Crowd)
Saturday 25th September & Saturday 12th September)
We are lucky in the fact we have a choice to pick from with The Wildhearts! They are on the South Coast TWICE! You can see them on the 12th in Bournemouth (Madding Crowd) or the 25th in Southampton (Engine Rooms)… or you could just go to both.
Tickets < Bournemouth, Southampton > Tickets

SURREAL PANTHER (The 1865)
Friday 22nd October
Did someone say………….. Surreal Panther?! YES! The tribute band to the iconic and loveable Steel Panther are coming to Southampton, with support from the new up and coming Bournemouth band Skinny Knowledge. What an absolute treat! Who doesn’t love some 80’s tongue in cheek hair metal.
Tickets

NOZLITE (The 1865)
Saturday 5th November
The first of it’s kind! The mini-Nozfest in the form of the inaugural NOZLITE. Headliners for this show are our Welsh friends Florence Black, a band who is always highly anticipated no matter where they play. Our support acts for our first Nozlite are White Raven Down, Scarlet Rebels and the Wicked Jackals.
Tickets

BLACK WATER COUNTY (The Joiners)
Saturday 13th November
A local band who always go down an absolute treat with audiences near and far. I recommend booking your tickets early for this show, because most Black Water County gigs end up selling out! So you’re not going to want to miss out on seeing these foot stomping, pirate country rock ‘n’ roll band blow your minds – one more beer wont hurt 😉
Tickets

BAD TOUCH (The Joiners)
Wednesday 1st December
What a way to kick off the last month of 2021 than a show with Bad Touch and Piston! Both bands are epic and always out on a banging show, so definitely get down to this one if you can because it’ll be the best way to see out the year, believe me! I think Black Tree Vultures may also be supporting this show… but don’t take my word for it in case I’m wrong.
Tickets

BROKEN WITT REBELS (The Joiners)
Saturday 18th December
Catch Broken Witt Rebels on their OK Hotel tour! I believe this is a rescheduled date, so if you’ve been thinking of tagging along to this show for a while… now is your time!! These are a popular band with NWOCRockers, so if you’re thinking of going to any of the shows already listed… you might as well pop down to this one as well 😉
Tickets

I hope some of these gigs may tickle your fancy – maybe I’ll even see you at one or two! 😉

If more gigs get added down South in the upcoming months, then I shall do a PART 2!

Feel free to check me out on my social media platforms, maybe give me a cheeky follow? 😉 I’m always posting music/rock’n’roll related content!
INSTAGRAM : JodieBowie
INSTAGRAM : Nozfest
FACEBOOK : JodieBowie
FACEBOOK : Nozfest
FB GROUP : Nozfest
WEBSITE : www.nozfest.org
YOUTUBE : JodieBowie

See you guys soon!

Jodie x ❤ x

JodieBowie : Why New Wave Of Classic Rock Is The BEST Place To Find New MUSIC

There is a fantastic little group on Facebook called New Wave of Classic Rock (NWOCR) and this has been the main place where I have discovered so many fantastic bands that light up my world! Seeing as I’m a promoter working mostly with NWOCR bands, I thought this would be a great opportunity to give this fantastic group a big shout out.

NWOCR is a Facebook group set up by Jeremy Wills, Peter Rattray, Katharina Ils-Kelber, Neil Barrell, Steve Fished and Ian Long and later joined by Gary Spiller and Richard Brindley. The aim of the group is to provide a platform where fans can come together and share photos, videos and recommendations from this great new scene. The timeline for bands to be featured in the group is that they have not released anything before 2010.

NWOCR is such a fantastic community and I am more than glad that I managed to stumble across it.

Back in 2018 I started listening to a lot more ‘local’ music. I was already a promoter but wanted to work with more bands than the ones I knew in my area. One day I was walking into town and my Spotify started churning out these songs by bands I’d never heard of… I headed straight to FB to find out who these bands were and this brought me to The New Wave Of Classic Rock Facebook Group and changed my whole life.

Without NWOCR I wouldn’t have been able to have put on Nozfest.
Nozfest is my very own New Wave of Classic Rock festival which takes place annually at The 1865 in Southampton usually in August. The line-up typically features 9-10 bands and is an all day festival. There will be links listed at the end if you wish to check Nozfest out.

The first few bands I came across where Mason Hill and Massive Wagons, closely followed by Those Damn Crows. These bands absolutely blew my mind! They reminded me so much of bands that I already loved… but they were fresh, exciting and I felt like I was the only one who knew of these bands, which made it even more exciting!

The talent in this group is phenomenal… it is honestly unbeatable. I maintain that I am the luckiest person to have come across the bands I have, and to have met and worked with them – life goal completed.

It is the most supportive community I have seen. No one judges any one, everyone is so passionate about the music they are creating, promoting, sharing, enjoying… I’ve never been to a ‘NWOCR’ gig and felt out of my comfort zone. It’s like one huge family, it really really is. There will always be someone you know in the crowd, and every person there is just living their best life in that moment that the positive energy radiates round the room, it’s incredible!

There will be something for everyone in this group, no matter if you are more into metal than rock. There will definitely be a few bands that tickle your fancy, you may even surprise yourself with what you are drawn to. That is what is so great about discovering new music, you just don’t know what you are going to come across.
If you love anything 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, rock, metal, blues, grunge, pop, punk… there will honestly be a band for you.

There’s absolutely no competition either. Every band supports another and sort of stays in their own lane (if that makes sense), no band is out to copy another. Everyone really ‘knows’ each other… there is just zero negativity, and that is so rare these days. It’s all about music and passion, it’s so refreshing to see so much kindness, respect, support and love, especially for such awesome music. NWOCR isn’t technically a genre… but in my opinion it’s one of the best for music.

I cannot wait for live music to return and to get myself down the front at a live show! I have missed all these bands so much. As great as Spotify and YouTube are… I just NEED to see those beautiful talented humans in the flesh and feel that rock ‘n’ roll vibe you can’t get anywhere else. I’m sure many people are feeling exactly the same, including the bands themselves.

This group is relatively small in terms of todays standard of music, however it is also HUGE. NWOCR is everywhere! It’s in Classic Rock magazine, bands are being played on Planet Rock and some bands are even playing festivals like Download! This just proves that people’s love for rock music will never go away, it is one huge community and has fans from all walks of life. There is still a place in the world for those ‘unconventional’ bands, and they are wanted more than ever. It may be a little harder for them to get their music out to the masses, but by god will it be worth it.

You’ll make new friends and meet so many remarkable people. If you are passionate about music, you’re bound to find a friend for life in this group. The NWOCR is like a second family to me. All my favourite bands are there, so many people are enjoying their music too, there are so many gigs and festivals to attend all year round (in normal times) and no matter where you are you’re bound to see familiar faces. It’s FANTASTIC! The best feeling in the world that.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with so many incredible bands… Massive Wagons, The Treatment, Collateral, Those Damn Crows, Mason Hill, Black Tree Vultures, Wicked Jackals, Stone Broken, Gallows Circus, Kris Barras, Skam, Hollowstar…. ALL THE BANDS!!! You make my heart fill with so much love and happiness you wouldn’t believe.

Lastly I am so so proud of every single band that puts themselves out there, creates fantastic music and is living their dreams. You are always on my mind, and I will always support you no matter how small you remain or how big you get. Thank you for bringing so much light and positivity to my life, and thank you so much for helping me achieve my own dreams along the way. Our journey’s are not over yet!

In the words of Those Damn Crows… “Rock ‘n’ Roll AIN’T DEAD!“.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog, and hopefully go on to discover many many more awesome bands, thanks to the NWOCR group.

Feel free to also check out myself, Nozfest and NWOCR on social media:
INSTAGRAM : Nozfest
FACEBOOK : Nozfest
FACEBOOK : JodieBowie
FACEBOOK GROUP : Nozfest
FACEBOOK GROUP : NWOCR
WEBSITE : www.nozfest.org
YOUTUBE : JodieBowie

Thank you!

Jodie x ❤ x