Solstice

Update 9th January 2004

See the previous year’s event.
Jam at The Swan
Find local bands and gigs indo at Josaka

Latest Info
Polishing up a few bits. If time will add more stuff.

Better Video?
Try this one or for download (3MB) or for broadband (100 kbps) try this one.

Also...
For more sights and sounds, see the individual band pages as well as the Photo page. More Photos, Video and Better Audio coming soon. CDs and/or videos on sale later.

Recordings
Recordings are in Windows Media

Most newish PCs have it already. Need not be latest version, but if you have problems, you could download a fresh one.

News Media
Many thanks to local TV, Radio and Newspapers for their support in spreading awareness of this event, whose audience increased by 50% compared to previous years, to about 700. Yes!

Background
This was 2003’s Charity Gig, continuing to help pay for the building extension and further disabled facilities in Arborfield’s
Village Hall.

Eleven live bands played (in rapid succession!) from Noon till very late on Arborfield recreation ground, behind The Bull public house
(in Arborfield, near Reading, Berkshire,UK). Click here for an on-line map

Organized by Dave Woodwards (of The Swan) and Helen Reed-McGregor (Chair of the Hall Committee and Parish Council).

Only possible thanks to our community- minded Sponsors.

Come back soon to review the day thanks to photos as well as streaming audio and video !

Site Credits
Website designed and supported by David Esp

Videos courtesey of Gary Cowan and another cameraman (sorry, don’t know your name!) not to mention Steve Burkwood who capturted them all to CD (using DivX & mp3). Video processing is by Dave Esp.

Sound recordings thanks to Norman Wootten (Minidisc) and David Esp (mixing & processing). Shame about the cheap mic.! Better quality is to come from the videos - check back later.

Somehow we ended up with 12 sets...

“The Longest Day of the Year...”


Here in Arborfield (UK) the very point or instant of Solstice 2003 was at 19.12 hrs (12 minutes past 7pm) on Saturday 21st June. This was the time when the sun was furthest from the celestial equator, i.e. highest in the sky anywhere in the northern hemisphere. The solstice dawn is a matter of contention. To some, it is the dawn of the same day, while to others it is the dawn closest in time to the solstice point, namely that of the following day, Sunday June the 22nd. In either case, at Stonehenge the sun rises at 04:57 BST and sets at 21:26 BST, from June 19 to June 23. The point of solstice changes each year, moving forward about six hours a year and jumping back each leap year. Last year it was at about 2pm.


English Heritage, who are responsible for Stonehenge, have allowed a celebration event to take place on their property on the dawn of the 21st. However, as some people believe it should instead be the 22nd, for reasons explained earlier, there may well be some disagreement with them. Watch for this in the news as the time approaches”


	Did they get the right day at Stonehenge?



	No Druids at Arborfield however...


	For an informative and comic attitude to all this (don’t take it too seriously!), have a look at the Cincinnati Enquirer’s article of 2002. However ignore the actual times because its talking about the USA and the year 2002 at that! It has sun facts, lists the different types of historic celebrations and also has more modern suggestions such as the Solstice Picnic. There’s also a list of cheesy songs no solstice DJ should be without...