[5] Since then the festival has expanded (moving to its current site in 2013) to become a venue for both well established artists and those just breaking through, across many musical genres, and has previously hosted talks from Tony Benn and Bill Oddie.

[6] Recent years have seen high-profile performances from rock and pop artists, including Van Morrison, James Blunt,[7][8] Kiefer Sutherland, Frank Turner, Wilko Johnson[9] and Lightning Seeds.

[14] Wickham Festival has also introduced British audiences to international musicians, including Carlos Núñez Muñoz,[15] The Spooky Men's Chorale[16] and Le Vent du Nord.

[18] Mr Chegwyn also organised the popular Gosport & Fareham Easter Folk Festival, which ran from 2001 to 2011,[19][20] Based out of Fernham Hall, Fareham (the festival also utilised the Ashcroft Arts Centre and Wallington Village Hall), attendees would be treated to four days of folk music, workshops, dance displays, craft fairs, and a Cèilidh.

Mr Chegwyn had been organising a highly successful music festival in Gosport which had featured artistes like the international blues superstar and guitar legend B.

The first Wickham Festival included performances from Daby Blade from Senegal, Spiers and Boden, Los Pacaminos, Richard Thompson, Shooglenifty, Sparks, Oysterband, Fiddlers' Bid, Osibisa, Flook, Steeleye Span and The Larry Love Showband.

In the years since 2006 the festival site has moved slightly to the fields either side of Blind Lane, north of the village square, steadily expanding to include multiple stages, food and craft fayres, real ale and cider bars, and family entertainment.

Other acts to appear that year included Lightning Seeds, Bellowhead, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Hugh Cornwell.

[1] Artists appearing at the festival included: Billy Bragg, Seth Lakeman, Eliza Carthy Big Band, 10cc, The Proclaimers, Moulettes, Show of Hands, Martin Carthy, Wilko Johnson, Andy Fairweather-Low, Tom Robinson,[33] De Temps Antan, The Spooky Men's Chorale, Askew Sisters, The South, Lisbee Stainton, Luka Bloom, Tankus the Henge, Les Barker and Roy Bailey.

In 2017 the camping capacity was increased with three added fields, and a free concert at Wickham Community Centre was scheduled to entertain early arrivals on the Wednesday evening.

The festival ultimately included five fully programmed stages of music, as well as the late night comedy and the return of a free concert in the Wickham Centre.

A strong line up was put together, featuring Graham Nash, local boy Frank Turner, Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland and Barnsley comedy-folk stalwarts The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican.

Saw Doctors will headline in a UK festival exclusive,[42] with Martha Wainwright, Rumer, 10cc and Gilbert O'Sullivan among the many other confirmed acts.

Toyah Willcox returned to the festival with her husband Robert Fripp, and there were show from Eliza Carthy, Barbara Dickson, Eric Bibb, The Zombies and many others.

Moving across the road to a flatter, grass field with improved access and drainage, Wickham Festival 2024 will bring a newly designed arena for attendees to explore.

[43][44] Wickham Festival works closely with Two Saints,[45] a Fareham-based charity that supports homeless and vulnerable young people across south Hampshire.

[49] Starting in 2021 a guitar signed by artists appearing at the festival has been raffled, to raise money for the music therapy charity George's Rockstars.