DJ Jazzy Jeff rocks Ashford

This year’s Ashford’s Create Festival was once again the perfect example of the kind of event that is making the borough a great place to live, work and play.

An amazing 14,000 people attending this free annual music extravaganza held in Victoria Park on 21 July with more than 30 talented entertainers performing across four stages throughout the day.

Main Stage headliner, “the magnificent” DJ Jazzy Jeff, got fans dancing up a storm as the sun set on a glorious summer’s day. The triple Grammy Award winner, record producer, actor and comedian received a tumultuous reception and he delivered a stunning set which delighted the happy crowd.

Earlier the stage, sponsored by Ashford College, hosted Junction Street, Jack Rose, Liv Austen, Doghouse Outhouse, Ben Russell and the Charmers, Crybaby Special, Wake Up Leo, Raffer, and energetic brass and drum collective Mama Brass.

Entertaining the huge crowds on the Revelation Stage was We Are Bandicoot, Matt Dolphin, Elle Rees, Danny Wright, Starts Hill, Thomas Ashby, Voodoo And The Crypts, A Million Little Pieces, and ex-chorister and classically trained cellist, O Mataeus.

Over on the Community Stage, sponsored by County Square, were a host of talented groups including 4x4 Bhangra, MGD Dance Crew, Stella ‘n the Loft, Cooper Stout, Invicta Ukulele Club, Gypskazz, Ashford Concert Band and the Paul Dunton Orchestra.

Meanwhile the DJ Stage brought a party vibe to the festival and got crowds dancing throughout the day – DJ Moscat, Slope Wild, Tumult and Adam Dowling went down a storm. The stage was sponsored by Ashford College.

Away from the music, families enjoyed picnics, tried tasty treats from Ashford Famers Market traders and watched street entertainers perform across the crowded park.

Create revellers were also treated to a magical pyrotechnic display around the Grade II* Hubert Fountain which finished off the festival in style.

But the fun didn’t stop there, with Create Platform hosted a free family picnic around the Hubert Fountain the following day to celebrate the 177th birthday of Mr George Harper, the man who gifted the fountain to the park. Families enjoyed birthday cake races, parades around the park, theatre performances and great music.

Organised by Ashford Borough Council and supported by local businesses, Create marked its 23rd event and remains one of the county’s biggest and best free music festivals.

Cllr Mike Bennett, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Ashford Borough Council, said: “Create Platform, a week-long programme of events across Ashford, was also a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase even more of Ashford’s local talent and help build the buzz ahead of the main event in Victoria Park.

“It’s thanks to the support from local talent, businesses and sponsors that we are able to work together to deliver something as positive as this for our community!”