Ashcroft Arts Centre's Ale Festival is back by popular demand – and this summer we are bringing you some of the best beers, ciders, food and live music that the South has to offer!
Quench your thirst with a specially-curated selection of 20 local beers and ciders from the likes of Bowman Ales, Hampshire's own SIBA & CAMRA Award-winning micro-brewery + more breweries to be confirmed.
You can also enjoy food from JJ's Street Food, who will be dishing up firm favourites – from Steak & Ale Pie and Homemade Fish & Chips, to Dirty Fries and Beef, Chicken & Veggie Burgers!
Both the day and evening sessions at Ashcroft's Summer Ale Festival will be soundtracked with electrifying live music, including high-energy rock & roll and rootsy foot-stomping blues:
Day Session (12pm - 4pm):
Headlined by The Black Kat Boppers: A hot-boppin', groovin’ four-piece group playing rockin' Roots music with a guitar, double bass & stand-up drums, The Black Kat Boppers hail from down on the South Coast Water Way in Southampton.
There’s been triumphant performances at Glastonbury Festival many times, Port Eliot, Bestival & Hyde Park (with Blur & The Specials), they’ve rocked Notting Hill Carnival, Rockabilly Rave Latitude & Viva Las Vegas – not to mention performing a memorable set with Florence and The Machine at Bob Geldof’s 60th birthday party!
The Black Kat Boppers have also been joined on stage by Damon Albarn as well as working with him in the studio and have regularly had Clash legend Paul Simonon playing with the band. Influences of rhythm & blues, jump & jive, ska, doo-wop are brought together with a lucky energy into a sound that is raw, authentic, sincere and unique.
Support from Rosco Shakes: A high-energy jump blues and rock & roll band inspired by greats like Louis Jordon, Big Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker, Rosco Shakes deliver their music with extraordinary prowess and showmanship.
Rosco Shakes are rapidly gaining recognition as a band to look out for, having recently had airplay on the BBC Radio 2 Blues Show and BBC Radio Somerset. They're also making waves on the festival scene including a headline slot at The Rabbit Hole at Glastonbury Festival 2022:
Evening Session (6pm - 10pm):
Headlined by Grizzly and The Grasshoppers: Featuring the gritty vocals and original music of frontman 'Grizzly Rhys' Morgan (acoustic guitar, lap slide and lap steel guitars, dobro, djembe, and harmonica) with Neil Shervell on drums and Joseph Rideout on bass, the music of Grizzly and The Grasshoppers is Roots and Blues at its foot-stomping best with a touch of folk and a hint of traditional blues!
Whether playing a dark and dirty tavern or a packed and muddy festival, Grizzly and The Grasshoppers draw people in with their energy and original style – Grizzly's lap-slide performances and the drum-offs are particular crowd pleasers.
"[Grizzly and The Grasshoppers] provided an adoring audience with big-hitting vocals to go along with those intricately weaved guitar techniques..." – RAWRAMP, Ilfracombe Blues Festival review
Support from The Devil's Damned String Band: A bluegrass band from the South of England, playing a mixture of their own material and bluegrass covers. The Devil's Damned String Band have played numerous gigs and festivals, including Boomtown and Isle of Wight Festival, and aim for you to have as much fun as they do.
For 18+ years only.
Dates and times
For 18+ years only.