1992-06-06---New-Musical-Express-(GB)-p03

Oxfam ’92: Locals fear ‘rowdies’
THE CURE, THE LEVELLERS,
THE FARM and TORI AMOS have
confirmed appearances at Oxfam’s
50th anniversary festival, despite
rumours that the event is in jeopardy.
The 'Oxfam '92 - Music For A Fairer
World' festival is scheduled to take
place in a natural amphitheatre at
Eastnor Castle in Malvern Hills on
September 5. A special revolving
stage is currently being constructed
to ensure minimal change-overtime
between artists, which also include
Alison Moyet, Galliano, Rebel MC,
S a lif Keita and Angelique Kidjo.
However, NME understands that
Malvern Hill council officials may
refuse to grant a licence for the event.
Local residents have bombarded
council officials with complaints
about the “rowdy” Avon Free Festival,
which was ejected from the
traditional Avon site, and took place
last weekend on Castlemorton
Common, within the Malvern Hill
council boundaries. Council officials
are now under considerable pressure
from local residents to stop the Oxfam
concert going ahead.
One local resident told NM E: “Quite
frankly I think people in this area are
sick to the back teeth of loud,
disruptive rock 'n' roll events. What
happened to the good old-fashioned
notion of people distributing
envelopes door to door to raise money
for charity?”
Earlier, unaware of opposition to
the concert, The Cure’s Robert Smith
commented: “After the success of the
' Crystal Palace Bowl Garden Party' in
1 990 we had for a while been looking
to play another unusual outdoor
summer concert in England, and
when the offer to headline at Eastnor
Castle came up, we knew it was the
perfect opportunity to both realise our
wish and, at the same time, show
genuine support for the aims and
endeavours of the Oxfam charity.
“We hope that the event will help in
their continuing struggle to raise
awareness and money, as well as
being an experience to remember. A
gorgeous day out is inevitable. Be
there or don't care.”
Meanwhile, The Cure were recently
filmed aboard the QEII travelling to
the US to begin their world tour. TVam
will screen this, plus film of a recent
US press conference, backstage and
concert footage of their Long Island
concert in three segments this week
(June 2 , 3 and 4). Contrary to Chart
Show announcements, The Cure will
not be appearing at Glastonbury.
Levellers to play Oxfam ’92—local
residents unimpressed
publication issue (YYYY-MM-DD) country
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