ROCK LEGEND Roy Wood will be the star attraction at Okehampton Arts Festival — back in all its splendour for an action-packed week of events this summer.
The flamboyant frontman of 1960s and 70s hit groups, The Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard, promises to bring an explosion of colour and spectacle to an event which drew the crowds by their thousands into Okehampton two years ago.
Okehampton Arts Festival committee has been working solidly since then to prepare an arts week to at least match the scale of what the public saw in 2000 and says people will not be disappointed.
Once again there will be a mix of national and local bands, a variety of musical styles plus a huge range of exhibitions, workshops and attractions for the whole family from July 15 to 21.
Committee chairman Alan King said after the show by Georgie Fame two years ago, who was supported by Okehampton's own Hard Place Band, the week needed a star of the same calibre to headline the festival.
'Georgie went down really well and gave a real boost to the event — it was the first time anything like this happened in Okehampton,' he said.
'This time we wanted to go for something different to rhythm and blues. Roy has really been there and got the tee-shirt and he comes with a ten-piece band, so it promises to be a big noise.'
With his mane of hair and outrageous costumes and stage performances, Roy Wood's appearance is as colourful as his music.
During the late 1960s and 1970s he stormed the charts with hits like 'See My Baby Jive', 'Angel Fingers', 'Flowers in the Rain' — the first ever record to be played on Radio One — 'Fire Brigade' and 'Blackberry Way'.
Like many stars of his time Roy, or Woody as he is known, continues to tour extensively, now under the auspices of the Roy Wood's Army, and writes for other artists.
The Zimbabwe rhythm group Chimanimani will be back and Tamla Motown group Band of Gold will be adding a new sound to festival week.
There will be an evening of classical music with John Holland and guest soloists, an old time music hall with the Courtenay Players, a Sunday gospel service with Okehampton's Soul Attitude followed by Bob Cook and friends in the Plymouth Inn for a jamming session.
Puppetcraft will be there to entertain the children and the adults with their 'Amazing Adventures of Sinbad' and there will be exhibitions and workshops in videoing and editing for the youngsters — circus-style performers will also bring activity to the streets.
Arts Week will link in with the re-opening of Simmons Park after major restoration work and on the final Saturday there will be an Edwardian fair.
Alan is keen to distinguish between Okehampton Arts Festival and Okehampton FirstAid, which aimed to bring top acts like Atomic Kitten to Okehampton but was dogged by a number of problems and had to cancel a concert.
'We are not about bringing major current acts here — it is very much a community organised event for local people with the majority of performers being from the South West,' he said.
'The total cost to put on this week is in the region of £12,000 which we hope to get through local sponsorship, grant aid and low-price ticket sales.
'We are relying on local support but not in the same way FirstAid needed it, and if people remember the buzz of arts week 2000 we believe the crowds will be back.
'There was a really good feel around the town last time — there will be no excuse for anyone to stay in any night of the week.'