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- Crown Hotel launch party
- Buskers & Open mic showcase
- Opening ceremony and community groups
- Rooftop Studios
- The Blueshounds
- The Jam'd
- Achtung Baby
- Classical concert
- Christ Church Middle School music and performing arts, Stagecoach
- BOTYB winners, Murphy's Marbles, Phoenix
- The Vanz
- Ballroom Glitz
- Roxy Magic
- People of Stone
- 2009 Gallery
- 2008 Slideshow
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Meet the SMAFS team
Stone Music and Arts Festival is the result of a lot of hard work by a band of volunteers assisted by a slightly larger collection of Friends of the Festival. The organising group doesn’t stand on too much ceremony but there has to be a system, so we have an executive group consisting of chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer and secretary who meet on a regular basis. Then each bit of the festival has its own small committee made up of people with the appropriate expertise who report back to the executive. Periodically there’s an open meeting which everyone can attend and when there’s work to be done we call on the Friends to provide some leg or person power. An open annual
general meeting is held in September to
share feedback and elect officers for the following year.
Steve Brookes (Chair)
As chair, Steve’s key role has been the overall coordination of the Voluntary Group and taking a lead role in fundraising. Steve is a former Town Councillor and a former senior police officer and is now a Senior Fellow at Manchester University (Manchester Business School) where he lectures and researches public policy and management. He does not have a background in music but “knows what he likes” and is a fan of both 60s/70s and classical music.
As chair, Steve’s key role has been the overall coordination of the Voluntary Group and taking a lead role in fundraising. Steve is a former Town Councillor and a former senior police officer and is now a Senior Fellow at Manchester University (Manchester Business School) where he lectures and researches public policy and management. He does not have a background in music but “knows what he likes” and is a fan of both 60s/70s and classical music.
Kate Moss (Secretary/Classical music coordinator)
Kate is a former Town Councillor and in her professional life, she is a Professor in Law at Wolverhampton University having previously been a criminologist and lecturer in law respectively at Loughborough and Staffordshire Universities. Music has been a key part of Kate’s life having studied music before entering law and she was a member of the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra as a flautist.
Kate is a former Town Councillor and in her professional life, she is a Professor in Law at Wolverhampton University having previously been a criminologist and lecturer in law respectively at Loughborough and Staffordshire Universities. Music has been a key part of Kate’s life having studied music before entering law and she was a member of the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra as a flautist.
Julie Taylor (Treasurer)
Keeping an eye on the finances! Once a bank manager, now working in insurance, Julie hails from Lancashire, and now lives in Stone. Her taste in music is "a bit random (ask my husband)", but she is a big fan of folk music.
Keeping an eye on the finances! Once a bank manager, now working in insurance, Julie hails from Lancashire, and now lives in Stone. Her taste in music is "a bit random (ask my husband)", but she is a big fan of folk music.
Phil Barber (Logistics)
Phil is the owner of the well known Stone Outdoor Co-op shop in the town and has been a strong supporter of the music festival from its inception. In addition to providing his expertise in relation to music, he is responsible for stage sound and lighting and leading the stage management team.
Phil is the owner of the well known Stone Outdoor Co-op shop in the town and has been a strong supporter of the music festival from its inception. In addition to providing his expertise in relation to music, he is responsible for stage sound and lighting and leading the stage management team.
Carol Bailey (Web coordinator)
Carol is a freelance indexer, and sings with a local blues band. She is responsible for the development of the website and social media.
Carol is a freelance indexer, and sings with a local blues band. She is responsible for the development of the website and social media.
Collin Taylor (Concessions/Compere)
Collin has been the compere for every festival since we started, and has now also taken responsibility for concessions, so if you wish to have a concession during the music festival weekend, he is the person to speak to.
Collin has been the compere for every festival since we started, and has now also taken responsibility for concessions, so if you wish to have a concession during the music festival weekend, he is the person to speak to.
Phil Mitchell (Photographer)
Phil has been taking photographs all his life, winning his first competition at the Stone Youth Centre in 1971. He has his own photographic pages on Redbubble.com where you can see more of the photographs he has taken for the festival. His favourite places for taking pictures are The English Lake District, the Canadian Rockies, in and around Stone and of course, at The Stone Music and Arts Festival. Phil was once a Councillor for Rugeley Town and Cannock Case District Councils, and in the 90's was an International F1 motor racing official.
Phil has been taking photographs all his life, winning his first competition at the Stone Youth Centre in 1971. He has his own photographic pages on Redbubble.com where you can see more of the photographs he has taken for the festival. His favourite places for taking pictures are The English Lake District, the Canadian Rockies, in and around Stone and of course, at The Stone Music and Arts Festival. Phil was once a Councillor for Rugeley Town and Cannock Case District Councils, and in the 90's was an International F1 motor racing official.
Al Lee (Design director)
A local musician, Al is a professional illustrator, and is responsible for all aspects of design for the festival.
A local musician, Al is a professional illustrator, and is responsible for all aspects of design for the festival.