NHS workers can get free R-FEST tickets to see Gary Numan, The Stranglers, Squeeze and more
The new Blackpool fest is offering 100 free tickets per day for NHS key workers
NHS key workers can get free tickets to watch a host of acts including The Levellers, The Stranglers, The Undertones, Gary Numan, Squeeze, Billy Bragg and more at the newly-established R-FEST in Blackpool this coming weekend.
R-FEST is an offshoot of the annual Rebellion Festival, billed as the largest punk and alternative festival in the world.
It takes place at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, while the R-FEST offering will be in an open-air location right in front of the iconic Blackpool Tower on the promenade.
A statement from the festival says: “Although the country and government might have stopped clapping for the NHS, R-Fest want to show their gratitude for everything they did during the pandemic and continue to do, by offering one hundred tickets per day to the wonderful NHS workers.
“If you’re an NHS key worker and fancy coming along for a day of music, food and sunshine all you’ll need to do is visit the Winter Gardens box office on Victoria Street, Blackpool this Wednesday 3rd August (12pm – 9pm) and show your NHS ID card to receive a free ticket for the R-Fest day of your choosing.”
They add that only one ticket per NHS ID can be given for free, though you may be able to purchase additional tickets from the box office. Up to 100 tickets are available for each day of the festival, which runs from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th August.
The full line-up for R-FEST is as follows:
THURSDAY 4th AUGUST: Levellers, Hawkwind, Misty in Roots, Dreadzone, Ferocious Dog, Beans on Toast, Millie Manders and the Shut Up
FRIDAY 5th AUGUST: The Stranglers, The Undertones, The Skids, From the Jam, Toyah, Jilted John, The Vapors
SATURDAY 6th AUGUST: Gary Numan, Peter Hook & the Light, Pop Will Eat Itself, Spear of Destiny, The Wedding Present, Primitives, Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies
SUNDAY 7th AUGUST: Squeeze, Billy Bragg, Tom Robinson Band, Hollie Cook, Buzzcocks, Altered Images, I, Doris
For more information visit the R-FEST website.
Gallery: Highlights from the Isle of Wight Festival 2022
Serge from Kasabian
Saturday's main stage headliner Kasabian got the crowd going despite the drizzly weather.
Kasabian on the Main Stage
Kasabian frontman Serge opened the set with Club Foot.
Ben Burrell catches up with The Fratellis frontman
Ben Burrell caught up with Jon Fratelli fresh from their Main Stage set
Blossoms sing Your Girlfriend
Indie rockers Blossoms gave it their all on the Main Stage despite the windy weather on the island.
Blossoms sing Your Girlfriend
Indie rockers Blossoms gave it their all on the Main Stage despite the windy weather on the island.
Bush and Richie on the River Stage
Lewis Capaldi was Friday night's headliner
This was Lewis Capaldi's first ever headline slot at a festival
Madness on the main stage
Madness got the crowd pumped in the sunshine on Friday evening.
Suggs backstage at Isle of Wight Festival
Suggs and Sarah Champion caught up backstage ahead of Madness' set
The Proclaimers backstage at Isle of Wight Festival
The Proclaimers joined Sarah Champion back stage for a chat after leading the festival's biggest singalong.
The Vaccines
The Vaccines chatting to Ben Burrell before their Friday afternoon Main Stage set
The Vaccines took to the stage on Friday
The Vaccines performed in glorious sunshine on Friday afternoon
Wet Leg in the big top
Isle of Wight natives Wet Leg filled the Big Top with their Sunday afternoon set.
Sunday night headliners Muse at IOW 2022
Muse rounded off the weekend with a killer headline set on the Main Stage
Muse brought the weekend to a close on the Main Stage
Muse saw the festival to a close in style with pyrotechnics galore.
Muse frontman Matt Bellamy
Muse played a HUGE set including classics Supermassive Black Hole, Starlight and Knights of Cydonia.