The Boileroom Celebrates Its 10th Birthday with Always the Sun Festival

Published on: 3 Aug, 2016
Updated on: 5 Aug, 2016

By Will Parsons

The Boileroom, an independent music venue and self-styled “community hub” on Artillery Terrace, Stoke Fields, is holding a two-day arts festival in Stoke Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11, to celebrate its 10th birthday.

The Boileroom team who are organising its 10th birthday festival, Always the Sun, at Stoke Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11.

Always the Sun will feature arts, live music, theatre, and interactive workshops, as well as locally produced food and drink.

Click here for ticket information and prices.

Among the musicians scheduled to perform on the festival’s two stages are indie rock band Mystery Jets, whose 2016 album Curve of the Earth reached No 30 on the UK albums chart, and Hugh Cornwell, former frontman of world-renowned rock band the Stranglers, which was founded in Guildford.

A major feature of the festival will be The Great Guildford Bake-Off, taking place in the festival’s outdoor kitchen.

Much like the hit BBC programme, this event will see contestants’ baked goods assessed by a panel of judges featuring former Great British Bake Off contestant and founder of The Alternative Kitchen, Stu Henshall; Muriel Quilter, of the Guildford Spike Womens’ Institute; and chef and Squires Kitchen tutor, Fran Willoughby.

Applications for the bake-off are open on the festival’s website for contestants of all ages and abilities.

The Boileroom was first established 10 years ago by Dom Frazer. She sees the venue as an “anchor point” in the local community and is proud of the Boileroom’s sense of openness in catering for all individuals.

She said: “People make their own way in their own lives and in their creative pathways, and we just accept each other for who we are.

“As an independent business, we’ve been here for 10 years championing local artists, and that’s not just musicians; it’s anyone creative.”

In addition to hosting local artists, the Boileroom houses various small, independent businesses including Esoteric Screenprinting, which produces and sells screen-printed clothing, and Boileroom Tattoos.

Boileroom Tattoes at the Boileroom in Stoke Fields.

Boileroom Tattoos at the Boileroom in Stoke Fields.

Ms Frazer said that organising the festival had been hard work so far for her small team; but that she was excited for the festival and wanted it to be bold and colourful.

Among the preparations for the festival, such as risk assessments and other bureaucracy, the team have been working on decorations, including two hand-painted pianos that will be available for festival attendees to play.

She added: “We’re hoping that Guildford can join us in that celebratory way, because life generally is quite tough for most people. It’s really just an opportunity for us to just have some fun.”

Click here for Always the Sun’s Facebook page.