Summer Sundae gets full third day

United Kingdom | by Ross Purdie | 14 December 2004

For the first time next year, Summer Sundae will host a full program of music from its main stage on the opening Friday - fulfilling its evolution into a complete three day event.

Meaning even bigger and better acts!

Previously, the Leicester festival was only allowed to use its main stage in the gardens of De Montfort Hall on the Saturday and Sunday of the weekend, confining Friday's music program to inside the hall and a number of small marquees.

But now, having reassured Leicester City Council over environmental health issues (ie noise!), organisers have been given the all-clear to use the stage all weekend.

Festival director Richard Haswell told VF: "This is great news as before our capacity on Friday was restricted to that of the hall itself, only 2,188. So we could only sell that many full weekend tickets, leading to some confusion, because when the Friday sold out, people assumed the whole festival was sold out even though Saturday and Sunday tickets were available. Confused? So were our audience! Now we have the same 5,000 capacity every day and night, making it a lot simpler for everyone."

Haswell also hinted there may now be a small price increase on tickets but said the extra cash would be used to book bigger acts. He said: "We are sure people will think it's well worth it."

This year, Super Furry Animals and Air headlined on the Saturday and Sunday nights, while Mr Scruff headed up Friday with a DJ set.

De Montfort Hall will continue to be used as a second stage for Summer Sundae, which next year takes place between 12-14 August in Leicester.