Local Bands Ramp Up the Volume on Bradford-on-Avon’s Skatepark Campaign

Bradford on Avon Gig Will Help Raise Funds for New Skate Park

A three-band fundraising gig to help fund a new skate park in Bradford on Avon, Sk8er Noize – Get on Board, is announced for Friday 22 October at the town’s St Margaret’s Hall. Promising to raise the roof as well as a cash contribution towards the park, the night of music and dancing will be headlined by fast-and-furious local legends, The Boot Hill All Stars, supported by popular rock covers band Pseudocrem, plus singer and guitarist Neil Ryles opening the show. Doors and bar open 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and available from The Wiltshire Music Centre.

The new skate park is designed by Maverick Industries, creators of some of the best and most progressive parks in the UK and using input from local skaters and young people. It will cost around £280,000 and Bradford on Avon Town Council have set aside £100,000 for the venture. The pot of additional publicly raised cash currently stands at around £30,000 and the gig hopes to add a chunk to that.

The state-of-the-art facility will replace the skate park which was demolished after being vandalised and falling into disrepair. In 2018 the young people of Bradford on Avon began campaigning for a safe and inclusive space to skate board as well as for BMX and scooter riders of all ages and abilities. The new park, finally agreed in 2020, will be at the same site as the previous one, forming part of a redevelopment of the whole Poulton Park site.

The event is organised by local parents, including Mick Stanger who plays guitar and electric mandolin with The Boot Hill All Stars, who have played everywhere from Glastonbury, Boomtown and Camp Bestival to Bradford’s very own Three Horseshoes pub. “From the first song they get the whole crowd up dancing, whooping and getting on down. By the time they bow out with a breakneck Jolene, they’re practically hollering from the rafters.” (Ollie Hulme, Wells May Fayre).

Mick said: “We always like to support local causes where we can, and are really excited to play our part in the Skate Park project – maybe you’ll see some of us learning to skate on it in a few years’ time!” Mick’s daughter Beth, aged 12, said: “I’m really excited by the plans for a skate park, it’s been a long time since we had somewhere to skate and it will be great for the local community. I love the idea of a fundraising gig, especially since it gives a spotlight to local bands.”

Vocalist Neil Ryles will start the night off with your favourite indie covers followed by classic rock and pop from Pseudocrem, made up of local parents and 15-year-old guitar prodigy Alex Maidment.