Louis Timpany, founder of Fix Radio – a UK based radio station specifically for tradespeople. (Image: Daily Express)
The world’s first music festival for builders is set to raise the roof this summer — as thousands of tradespeople down tools and party after hard-working colleagues have built a stage. The all-day live-music bonanza FixFest has been launched by Fix Radio, the fastest growing radio station in the UK, and is aimed specifically at the building industry and trade workers.
It means brickies, chippies, plumbers, sparks, skimmers and all other trades will be able to let their hard hats down for the first of its kind event which celebrates the hardworking industry. And can they dig it? Yes they can, with organisers hoping to lay the foundations by making the event an annual fixture on the UK festival circuit. Tickets start from £55 available here.
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The organisers have nailed the line-up by bringing in world renowned UK rapper and trained tradesman Dizzie Rascal, to headline the all-dayer along with bands including Scouting for Girls, Toploader, the Cuban Brothers and top tribute band NOASIS.
Dizzee, 40, will take to the stage despite learning a new trade when music-making was halted by Boris Johnson’s government during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Dizzee said: “I trained as a plasterer during lockdown, so I’ve got real respect for the trades. It takes proper skill and hard graft — and once you’ve got it, you’re set for life.
“Builders and tradies don’t always get the credit they deserve, so I’m buzzing to be part of a brand-new festival that’s celebrating them and shining a light on all their hard work. FixFest’s going to be an amazing day for them and their families to unwind and enjoy – I can’t wait!
Fix Radio was launched in 2017 by University of Leeds business graduate Louis Timpany, 32, who got the idea while working as a labourer on a building site.
Louis Timpany founder and chief in action (Image: -)
The station has gone from strength to strength and claim one in four trade workers now listen to the station – more than 700,000 listeners a week.
Timpany, the CEO of the national station, said: “I was working on a site and I was amazed how much they all loved listening to the radio.
“Two lads started arguing about what station to listen to one day so I asked them if I launched a radio station for trades people would they listen to it? They said ‘yes’ and that was the origin of Fix Radio.”
The station now employs 60 people and alongside a no-repeat playlist has trade specific features, advice and regular talk segments that cover issues such as tool theft and mental health problems.
But now the station is going to the next level and has launched FixFest. The event has been 18 months in the planning and as well as wall to wall entertainment with live music stages there will be a VIP area, multiple bars, a fantastic food area and plenty of attractions for kids to enjoy.
One hundred builders from different trades will build the festival site in just one week and there will be obligatory builder’s tea, fry-ups and bacon butties alongside more traditional festival fayre.
Dizzee Rascal performs on stage (Image: Getty Images)
There will also be eight different trades stands in the Inspirational Zone – ranging from bricklaying to plumbing and electricians – giving festivalgoers the chance to get stuck in and find a new career. And it hopes to encourage young people to explore careers in a trade – ensuring the next-generation pick up tools and carry on building a great future for the entire country – and tackle the UK’s growing skills gap.
And at least ten counsellors, peer supporters and charity experts will also be on-hand to discuss mental health and provide practical wellbeing tips – as statistics show that two people in the trades tragically take their life every working day.
Timpany added: “It is going to be a celebration of the very best of British trades – a day where it truly means something to be part of the trade community.
“It is an amazing career. You can earn great money and be in huge demand – AI can’t build houses yet remember.
“We need more tradespeople — fast. The average age of a builder is now 55, so it’s vital we get more young people looking at the trades as a proper career.”
Toploader perform during the concert celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, held at the histori (Image: PA)
Fix Radio – a UK based radio station specifically for tradespeople. (Image: Daily Express)
“We have a big perception problem with the trades in the UK. It’s almost as if you have gone into the building trade, you are sort of seen as a failure as schools are so academically driven. But that is just not the case!
“In Europe people in the trades are held in high regard because of their skills, that should be the case here in the UK, it should be seen as an aspirational career path. You can’t build a future without builders!”
The festival, which is expected to draw an audience of around 5,000, is being held at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex on Saturday August 30. Tickets for FixFest cost £55 per adult with £110 for VIP entry. For further info go to www.fixfest.co.uk