My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad: Swindon festival 2024 line-up

My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival is now into its fourth year after being set up in 2021 to celebrate the life of one of the town’s favourite landlords.

Dave Young was the landlord of both The Victoria pub and 12 Bar but died in June 2021 at Prospect Hospice after a battle with cancer.

Organised in association with South Swindon Parish Council, the festival is to be held at The Old Town Bowl on Saturday, July 20.

Gemma and Aaron Denley-Doswell are helping host the festival again. (Image: Gemma Denley-Doswell.)

READ MORE: We went to Swindon’s ‘biggest music festival’ and got thoroughly drenched

First to be announced is the return of local legend Gaz Brookfield, along with his band The Company of Thieves.

Gaz is shortly about to embark on his The Almost all Village Halls tour, after the release of his most recent album Morning Walking Club.

The album, Gaz’s ninth, was released in August 2023 and was this week named 37th best-selling album of 2023 after going straight in at number one in the Official UK Folk Album Charts.

The festival has proved to be a hit with Swindonians each year. (Image: Newsquest)

Co-organiser Ed Dyer said: “It’s our absolute pleasure to be welcoming Gaz and the band back to The Bowl, especially after his recent success, and pleased he’s been able to squeeze us in around his busy touring schedule.”

Tickets are priced at £20 per adult with proceeds going to Prospect Hospice and in its first three years, My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival has raised over £32,000.

Dave’s last band, Calne’s legendary punk covers outfit, The Chaos Brothers, are also joining Gaz on the day, along with the Swindon-based bluesy THUD, whose debut performance was at MDBTYD 2021.

Ed added: “This is only the start of things to come for MDBTYD 2024 and we can’t wait to show everyone who else we have in the pipeline.”

The festival is now one of the biggest live music events in Swindon's calendar.

MDBTYD Festival will again see plenty of activities for all the family, including the return of the popular indie market, as well as food and drink from a variety of locally based vendors.

The festival saw a large turnout at last year's edition with events for all ages being an inviting initiative for families across town with food, painting and drinks all available alongside the live music.

Prospect Hospice, based in Wroughton, provides palliative and end of life care for people across the region and has to raise the majority of its costs through fundraising.