Wakestock to return in 2009 (From Witney Gazette)

Wakestock to return in 2009

7:45am Tuesday 1st July 2008 in Witney By David Horne

OXFORDSHIRE'S newest major music festival, Wakestock, is set to return for a second year at Blenheim Palace, its organisers revealed last night.

An average of 8,000 people attended the three-day music and watersports extravaganza in Woodstock over the weekend to enjoy performances by internationally acclaimed artists such as Mark Ronson, Groove Armada, Supergrass and The Streets.

Last year, the wakeboarding festival sold out its allocation of 25,000 tickets for its July weekend in North Wales. And this year's event clashed with the high-profile Glastonbury Festival.

However, organisers still feel Blenheim Palace offers a great location for the festival and have vowed to return next year.

Spokesman Alan Day said: "Wakestock is going to be back at Blenheim Palace next year, but not necessarily on the weekend it took place this year.

"We're really pleased with how it went. Being on the same weekend as Glastonbury wasn't ideal, but it was the only weekend we could get the lake.

"We're building the base of Wakestock and have introduced a lot of people to this new sport.

"We're encouraged that we had so many people come in its first year."

The Happy Mondays lead singer Shaun Ryder again sparked controversy after lighting up a cigarette on stage at the festival just two days before the first anniversary of the smoking ban.

Despite audiences being told not to smoke in all of Wakestock's tents Mr Ryder sparked up again on Saturday night repeating his antics from the Oxford Carling Academy in October 2007.

West Oxfordshire District Council said it was investigating the incident.