Previous Events
2007 Sounds of the Suburbs grew to become SOS Promotions CIC, a Community Interest Company. Two new members were recruited. PAD Creative continue to deliver their in-kind design service to the festival.
2006 Sounds of the Suburbs event organisers took a well earned break to restructure the organisation and to recruit new volunteers. Three new members came onboard for 2007.
2005 Supported by the Bridge House Trust, The Bowl 2005 was without doubt the busiest and best yet featuring some exceptional stage performances, with some great new DJs and percussionists, a bustling food, craft and market area plus a huge free kids play zone with clay making, t-shirt printing, storytelling, drumming workshops; giant board games and an art club. Top of the Pop’s tickets were up for grabs and, new to the festival, an SOS Information Stand.
2004 Funded by the Arts Council England, more than a dozen local bands, artists and hip-hop crews took to the stage. The bands were supported on both days by DJ Lee Van Cliff who spun the tunes and kept the tempo going as the bands changed over. Local music luminaries Mad Professor, esteemed collaborator of Lee “Scratch” Perry, and ex-Carter front man Jim Morrison aka Jim Bob donated items for the tombola and Franz Ferdinand donated some rare signed merchandise. Youngsters were also catered for with various children’s activities, such as face painting and craft-making.
2003 Sure Start funding enabled the festivals first free children’s area with poi and drumming workshops, bouncy castles, circus skills, storytellers, dance workshops and entertainers. Over 1,000 children benefited from the venture. Additional funding was secured from SRB, Stella Artois and NHS Trust.
2002 SOS took the decision to run The Bowl over a Saturday and a Sunday, to give the event a proper festival vibe. Thanks to the Children’s Fund Local Network, children were given the opportunity to attend drum and puppet making workshops and were taught about percussion and rhythms to prepare them for the event. The children opened The Bowl 2002 with a carnival procession displaying their puppets and performed alongside a samba band. The crowds rapturously applauded and appreciated everything, which made SOS realise why it is they do what they do...
2001 Funded by The Bridge House Trust and Morgan’s Spiced Rum, several thousand people turned out for what was to be the hottest day of the year. Temperatures soared into the 90’s, causing the beer coolers to work overtime! SOS celebrated as they watched the community come together to truly celebrate their natural environment.
In 2000 Jeanne Gregory from the Crystal Palace Partnership helped Charlotte Fletcher form the community group ‘Sounds of the Suburbs’ ('SOS'). The ethos of the group was essentially to provide opportunity to local musicians and to supply free entertainment to the community in a festival type atmosphere. Funded by SRB and with a lot of SOS initiative, The Bowl 2000 took place over four Saturday afternoons in July. Local artist collective ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme’ provided the vivid stage backdrops for the event which showcased 36 local artists and DJ’s. The involvement of local businesses and community groups gave the event a truly local South London identity.
1999 Charlotte Fletcher and Tony Patience founded the Bowl Festival. The pair dreamt up the idea of holding a music festival for the community whilst sat pondering at the Bowl Stage one sunny June afternoon. With support from the park manager, the summer of 1999 saw three events and nine local bands christen the stage. Despite limited resources, a few hundred people lapped up the chilled yet raw vibe.