New music festival coming to Newent this summer

A new festival which has been organised by six friends is set to be held on the grounds of a farm in Newent. The festival will bring live bands, a silent disco, bar and quality food will be available from take-away vans as well.

Up and coming bands will be performing throughout the day at the New Heights festival which is being held at Nansfield Farm, in Newent on Saturday July 20. The events starts at noon and will run through till around midnight, it costs £40 per ticket and there is parking at the site.

The man who has been inspired to put on the festival is Newent man, Sam Goulding, 30, who works as an entrepreneur. He also has a business running a luxury vehicle car hire company called 4x4 Vehicle Hire and also works on the family farm, Mansfield Farm, where the event is being held.

READ MORE: Gloucester film director duo launch independent movie festival in the city

Sam said: "I was listening to a band called The Zangwills on Spotify in the hot tub in 2022. I really liked their sound so I went and found where they were playing at a gig went to see them in Birmingham.

"I have always like seeing live bands and listening to new music, so I spoke to five of my best friends and talked about us all putting on a festival and we all agreed to go for it. Then I approached The Zangwells through their website and contacted their manager and asked if they would come on board and play at the festival we were organising.

"Their song I really liked is called New Heights and the singer was so raw and had a unique voice, and the drummer and the momentum of the band I just really liked everything about them. Then we decided to call the event New Heights festival."

Sam called on his friends, Paul Mason, 35,George Gough, 30,Dan Yeandle, 33,James Gough, 25, Jack Baker, 29 to organise the New Heights festival. Sam says he knew each of them have qualities to organise the event and make it a success.

Sam said: "The group I have got on board, they are my best friends and they all individually had qualities to bring to the festival to make it a success. We are really looking forward to the festival and have worked really hard."

The gates open at midday on July 20 at Mansfield Farm. Live music starts at 1pm through till 10pm, followed by a DJ set, and then a silent disco from 10.30pm till 12.30am.

Sam said: "My best friend Jack and I have scouted the bands and can guarantee the bands are good. I have a passion for new music and have seen many of the bands included in the festival on the circuit.

"I feel there are not enough places for bands to play live music. This will be a festival with a proper set up with sounds engineers, lighting, stage and PA system.

"This has been a real group effort and we are really looking forward to it. We hope people will buy a ticket and come along and enjoy our new festival and support the live bands."