South Downs Music Festival - Marquee Concerts

Join us for two evenings of quality music on the promenade - our Marquee concerts have become a fan favourite part of the festival.

The marquee concerts opens on Friday 19th September with Gerry Colvin - The words of the great Phil Beer need nothing added: "Gerry Colvin is a writer of great substance who is able to give us something that has been largely missing in English Music for a long time. His subjects and characters are clearly defined and his songs create strong images and stories which can make us both laugh and cry in the same breath. This man is unique and unforgettable. The songs are brilliant. He should be a household name. Go see him.”

Gerry joined us for a memorable show last year with his band and received a standing ovation and some great feedback; so much so that we have invited Gerry back for 2025 where he will be playing his songs in a more intimate solo show.

Following Gerry on stage will be multi award winning festival favourites Merry Hell - who offer joyful, uplifting folk-rock, with a message for troubled times. Native to the North-West of England, the 8-piece musical charabanc was fuelled from the embers of the much-loved folk-punk band The Tansads, before developing a life and feel all of its own. Their energy and passion are complemented by their love of what they do and desire to share hope and togetherness with as many people as are willing to listen. Through 7 well-received albums and hundreds of gigs, they’ve offered voices of hope and beacons of light to anyone valuing spirit, energy, melody and positive humanity.

Then on Saturday 20th September the evening will open with another festival favourite troubadour Flossie Malavialle - a French born singer who was based in the North East of England from 2002 to 2019. She has become an accomplished performer playing at folk clubs and festivals all over the UK (and beyond) and supporting acts such as Fairport Convention and Show of Hands. Flossie’s powerful yet sensitive rendition of songs combined with her quaint northern twang and humorous banter will no doubt entertain and leave you with a smile. Her collection of 14 albums is a reminder of how much work and dedication she has put into her music career: from well-established folk songs to jazz standards, from blues numbers to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel’s classics, her wide répertoire appeals to all.

Flossie will be followed on stage by The Alistair Goodwin Band - renowned for their hard-driven freak-folk steeped in psychedelia, country-punk and urban blues – you won’t know what to call it but you’ll want to keep hearing it. Alistair’s raw vocal-guitar sound is taken to new dimensions by an actual wizard, whose soul-tripping electric cello sweeps you from rock to flamenco via trance and whale song. Add percussion, grunge bass and some Nigel’s, and the result is a musical oddity of strange and rare beauty.

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