Hannah Turek, LPFCW, Summer 2019
Amplified Festival is an alternative UK festival that will be taking place in Gloucestershire in its third year of running and will be showcasing sixty bands across three stages in as many days, from smaller up-and-coming acts to more established bands in the alternative scene.
However, on Saturday the 20th July, there will be a brief pause in between headline acts in order to commemorate those who have fallen to mental health issues. Of course, this date will be the second anniversary of [Linkin Park frontman] Chester Bennington’s passing, and festival Owner Gary Paterson had this to say about the state of mental health, not just for musicians, but everyone.
“Far too often we're now hearing about the loss, not only of people many of us idolise within the 'showbiz' world, but also close friends and family members. It doesn't matter whether you’re someone performing on stage or someone working in an office, we can all suffer mental anxiety, a need to conform and a pressure to succeed in whatever profession we find ourselves in.”
He goes on to talk about when he heard the news of Chester’s passing, “Prior to opening the gates of the inaugural Amplified Festival in 2017, we were stunned as a gathering community of music lovers to hear of the sudden and tragic loss of Chester Bennington, a man many thought of as one of the musicians of his generation. But not only was he a performer, he was a father, a husband, a son. Someone who seemed to have it all; success, fame, family and wealth, yet still there were 'demons' that eventually took him too soon. Now two years on from such a tragic loss, it seems fitting to host a small celebration of his life and works here at Amplified, whilst also remembering all the other souls we've tragically lost before their time, such as Chris Cornell, Keith Flint, Kurt Cobain and so many more.”
This is a heartfelt decision that will not only allow the crowd to grieve the artists we’ve lost to mental illness, but also people in our everyday lives that have died by suicide. In a setting like Amplified, surrounded by others who understand and empathise with those who have lost someone, whether it be an idol, family member or friend, it allows those affected to connect and speak out about their experiences with like-minded people.
“Whilst attending here over the weekend, we want everyone to know they're not alone, even in the darkest times. A 'Memory Wall' will be erected where people can share pictures, write notes, sit around and chat remembering friends they've lost, listening to those who may need to talk and lending a shoulder for those who need it,” Paterson went on to say. “People need to know that support is always there, and it seems we often use the phrase 'Metal Family', but it's what we are, and long may it continue. As Amplified continues to grow, so will our support for those who need it. No one should be forgotten or go unheard when they need help the most.”
Undoubtedly, it will be an emotional and impactful way for those who have lost someone to mental illness or who suffer from it themselves to come together and celebrate life. Amplified Festival invite all those in attendance to join them in the Arena on Saturday for the moment of tribute, or on Facebook Live via the Amplified Festival UK Facebook page and are proud to support and sponsor The Mental Health Foundation. Tickets to Amplified are available here.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, help and resources can be found at http://www.buddy-project.org/