The Phoenix Festival was set up by John Vincent Power of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals. It was held at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and was one of the first four-day festivals in Britain.
History The first year of the festival (1993) featured headline performances by Sonic Youth, Hole, Faith No More and The Black Crowes, and included other notable acts such as Manic Street Preachers, Julian Cope, The Young Gods and House of Pain. However, the event was marred by controversy. Travelers refused free entry, blocked the entrance meaning many spent their Friday night in their vehicles in long queues. Festival goers were made to put out camp fires and turn off sound systems at midnight. These rules were in contrast to the 24-hour culture of the Glastonbury Festival, with which many of those present at Phoenix were familiar. There were even demands for refunds, and the festival's reputation was marred from the outset. The enforcement of these rules by security staff led to many of the festival goers showing their displeasure in no uncertain terms. Fencing and light rigs were toppled, fires set and physical clashes between festival goers and security staff also occurred.
The festival never really recovered from its poor reception, and although it attracted consistently popular acts, festival goers were less than happy with the site (an old airstrip) and there were also complaints about the prices on site. Such were the problems with security that when the Big Top managed by experimental theatre company 'Dancin Dog' was three times over capacity no staff were available to remedy the situation leading to fights between performers and audience and artists unable to leave the stage resulting in crowds demanding more for several hours and performers continuing until they collapsed from exhaustion and in fear for their lives.
Problems with the event reached a climax in 1996 when many festival goers missed David Bowie on the Thursday night due to problems letting people on site. Having sold out that year for the first time, due to the Glastonbury Festival taking its usual year off (once in every five years in a cycle), the organisers struggled to cope with the crowds and extreme heat. Temperatures on site exceeded thirty degrees Celsius on all days. The weekend was further marred with problems with water being unavailable in parts of the site. The event was notable for the fact that the Sex Pistols headlined their first major UK festival that weekend.
The festival continued for one more year but could never compete with its main rival, the Glastonbury Festival. The 1998 Phoenix event was cancelled due to poor ticket sales, but some acts were moved to that year's Reading Festival.
In July 2011, Vince Power announced his intention to resurrect the festival in his introduction to the programme of the Hop Farm Festival. Power wrote: "For those of you who remember the Phoenix Festival, it's my intention to resurrect this festival next year as Glastonbury is taking a break."
Line ups 1993 The 1993 Phoenix was held from 16 to 18 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Phoenix StageFridaySaturdaySundaySonic Youth Julian Cope The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy Parliament-Funkadelic (No Show - House Of Pain played this slot) Hole The Fatima Mansions The God Machine Jacob's MouseFaith No More House of Pain The Young Gods Björn Again Fun-Da-Mental Consolidated That Petrol Emotion New Fast Automatic Daffodils Silverfish Die CheerleaderThe Black Crowes Pop Will Eat Itself Living Colour Manic Street Preachers Yothu Yindi Helmet Mercury Rev Bad Religion Hyperhead CNN
Zine StageFridaySaturdaySundayThe Buzzcocks The Family Cat Pulp The Funking Barstewards Eat The Pooh Sticks The Hair and Skin Trading Company Energy Orchard RingoBilly Bragg The Men They Couldn't Hang Martin Stephenson Red Devils Trash Can Sinatras The Fat Lady Sings Pele The Tansads Velocity Girl NervousThe Wedding Present Thousand Yard Stare Los Lobos Ian McNabb A House Rainer Kinky Machine Molly Half Head The New Cranes
Jazzterrania StageFridaySaturdaySundayJames Taylor Quartet Courtney Pine The Pharcyde Mother Earth Jason Rebello Vibe TribeGil Scott-Heron And The Amnesia Express Jamiroquai The Sandals Corduroy Keziah Jones Cypress Hill John Coltrane TributeGangstarr Quartet with Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers Steve Williamson's That Fuss Was Us Jazz Jamaica Urban Species Snowboy & The Latin Section Secret Society
Lime Lizard StageFridaySaturdaySundayUtah Saints Eugenius Redd Kross The Moonflowers Sloan Band Of Susans St. Johnny Sidi Bou SaidBack To The Planet Dr. Phibes and the House of Wax Equations Cardiacs Th' Faith Healers Senser Mint 400 Skyscraper Collapsed Lung CompulsionSheep On Drugs The Rockingbirds Stereolab Matthew Sweet Bivouac Cornershop Credit to the Nation Strangelove Radial Spangle Fretblanket
1994 The 1994 Phoenix was held from 14 to 17 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Phoenix StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundaystage closedThe Wonder Stuff Carter USM The Fall Squeeze The Posies Jah Wobble The Goats Fun-Da-Mental WhiteoutPaul Weller Pop Will Eat Itself Ozric Tentacles Crash Test Dummies Gil Scott-Heron Senseless Things Urban Dance Squad The Sandals Baby Chaos The Red DevilsIggy Pop Therapy? Ned's Atomic Dustbin Killing Joke Buzzcocks Magnapop The Family Cat NOFX Blaggers ITA
Vox StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayGary Clail On U Sound System Bim Sherman Little Axe Adrian SherwoodThe Pogues John Cale Kirsty MacColl Tom Robinson The Trash Can Sinatras David Gray The Coalporters Ben HarperThe Beautiful South The Blue Aeroplanes Terry Hall The Divine Comedy Eddi Reader The Bible My Life Story Marion Cast ThrumInspiral Carpets Renegade Soundwave A House Mother Earth The Grid Beat Traders A Certain Ratio Suns of Arqa Youthu Yindi Terry Edwards Baby Chaos
Melody Maker StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayDodgy Astralasia
T.Rextasy Land Of Barbara HeadSpiritualized Stereolab Bark Psychosis Moonshake Golden Claw Radial Spangle ROC Drugstore Puppy Love Bomb Skunk AnansieBack To The Planet Swervedriver Mega City Four These Animal Men Voodoo Queens Gunshot The Muddie Funksters Dub War Rub Ultra Done Lying Down Tribute To NothingShellac Girls Against Boys Brick Layer Cake The Raincoats The Pastels Bailterspace Tsunami Mambo Taxi AC Acoustics
Jazzterania StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayIncognito Urban Species Raw Stylus Ian & RobDonald Byrd Courtney Pine Greg Osby Freakpower Ian & RobGalliano Snowboy Fishbelly Black Vibe TribeHerbie Hancock Roy Ayers Corduroy D*Note Jhelisa
Loaded Comedy StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayFrank Sidebottom John Shuttleworth Kevin Day Ian Cognito Phil Kay Martin Coyote Mike Hayley Andre Vincent Ardal O'HanlonMark Thomas Jeff Green Rubber Bishops Man with Beard Sean Connery Brotherhood Alistair MacGowan Dave SpikeyLee Evans Mark Steel Mark Hurst Lee Hurst Linda Smith Dominic Holland Hattie HayridgeEddie Izzard Richard Moton Attila the Stockbroker Sean Meo Simon Bligh Fred MacAulay Paul Tonkinson John Moloney Rhona Cameron
1995 The 1995 Phoenix was held from 13 to 16 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Phoenix Stage (host & DJ: Jo Whiley)ThursdayFridaySaturdaySundaystage closedSuede Bob Dylan Tricky Van Morrison The Fall The Wedding Present Chumbawamba Salad Velvet CrushFaith No More Public Enemy Terrorvision Paradise Lost Body Count Ice-T EMF Senseless Things (no-show) Gallon Drunk Shootyz Groove PitchshifterPaul Weller Brand New Heavies Warren G (no-show) George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic The Charlatans Underworld Spearhead Credit to the Nation Marion
Melody Maker StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayBootsy Collins Prophets of Da CityAztec Camera Edwyn CollinsSpiritualized Electric Mainline The Verve The High Llamas (replaced Nitzer Ebb) Man or Astroman? AC Acoustics Gorky's Zygotic MynciThe Wildhearts (no-show) Biohazard Dog Eat Dog Honeycrack Shudder to Think Joyrider Schtum
Kiss 100 StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayGil Scott-HeronGalliano NormskiGuru's Jazzmatazz MC 900 Ft. JesusJames Taylor Quartet Jessica Lauren
Megadog StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayThe OrbUnderworld The Chemical BrothersEat Static ConemeltTrans-Global Underground African Headcharge
Comedy TentThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayLily SavageLee Evans John OtwayMark LamarrFrank Sidebottom
1996 The 1996 Phoenix Festival was held from 18 to 21 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Phoenix StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayDavid Bowie The Prodigy Gene Frank Black Placebo KenickieNeil Young and Crazy Horse Alanis Morissette Manic Street Preachers Foo Fighters Dodgy The Wildhearts Beck The Flaming Lips Ian McNabb Fun Lovin' CriminalsBjörk Massive Attack Cypress Hill Skunk Anansie Stereolab Genius/GZA The Wannadies Guru's Jazzmatazz Ruby CecilSex Pistols Terrorvision Echobelly The Fall Marion Coolio The Cardigans Drugstore Honeycrack Linoleum
Guardian StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayCocteau Twins Strangelove The Young Gods The Aloof The Dirty Three Earl BrutusLush G Love & Special Sauce Bis Baby Bird Super Furry Animals Jonathan Richman Barenaked Ladies Dr. Robert Rare Perfume Elcka Agent Provocateur NervousShed Seven Grant Lee Buffalo Heavy Stereo 60ft Dolls Catatonia Audioweb No Way Sis Collapsed Lung New Kingdom Scheer Revelino SodaReef Longpigs Compulsion Dub War Senser Kerbdog Holy Barbarians Baby Chaos Send No Flowers Smaller Joyrider 3 Colours Red
Megadog StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayLeftfield Banco de Gaia Zion Train Asian Dub FoundationCarl Cox The Prodigy CJ Bolland System 7 Hardfloor Darren Emerson Earth Nation Outer Active Alabama 3 J PacGrooverider Goldie Fabio Lionrock Red Snapper LTJ Bukem Spring Heel Jack Baby D Nicolette Andrew Weatherall LambIngrid Schroeder The Chemical Brothers Spooky William Orbit Slab The Aloof James Lavelle Interact
Jazz Café StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayIncognito Courtney Pine Raw Stylus Earthling Big Cheese All StarsGuru's Jazzmatazz Corduroy Dirty Dozen Brass Band Nightmares on Wax Weldon Irvine Snowboy & The Latin Section Smith & Mighty The BrotherhoodUs3 Moloko Mother Earth Jazz Passengers feat. Debbie Harry Terry Callier Dee C Lee Jazz Co Tech Dancers Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers EusebeJames Taylor Quartet The Pharcyde Ben Harper Me'shell The Specials Maxwell Monday Michiru Attica Blues
1997 The 1997 Phoenix Festival was held from 17 to 20 July at Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon. "David Bowie requested some odd items on his Phoenix rider but came close to not getting a few," recalled promoter Neil Pengelly. "An urgent, eleventh-hour delivery of his bullworker and carrot juicer required a dash through the arena in a golf cart – not a problem until a plucky punter nicked the cart from under the nose of the briefly distracted driver. A Benny Hill-style chase ended when the man dumped the cart and ran off into the crowd. Adding insult to injury, three girls spotted the key still in the cart and ram-raided the cigarette stall."
Main StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayBlack Grape Skunk Anansie Fun Lovin' Criminals De La Soul Asian Dub FoundationThe Charlatans The Lightning Seeds Shed Seven Teenage Fanclub The Wannadies Beth Orton Morcheeba Hurricane#1 SussedJamiroquai Gabrielle US3 ABC Olive Lamb Corduroy The Prisoners Groove ConnectionDavid Bowie Orbital Texas Faith No More Billy Bragg 3 Colours Red Catatonia Apollo 440 Arkarna
Guardian StageThursdayFridaySaturdaySundaySpiritualized Strangelove Gorky's Zygotic Mynci Madder Rose Soul Coughing Warm JetsRollins Band Republica Lionrock Embrace Travis Lo Fidelity Allstars Gold Blade Smaller Broadcast Mogwai Midget LibidoAphex Twin Sneaker Pimps 60ft Dolls Subcircus Laika The Candyskins David Devant & His Spirit Wife Linoleum Stereophonics One Inch Punch JoltSinéad O'Connor Shane MacGowan My Life Story Drugstore Luna Urusei Yatsura 18 Wheeler Arnold Mantaray Baby Fox