FAQ
TICKETS
How much are tickets and when do they go on sale?
Tickets are currently on sale and right now cost just £99.00 for an All Festivals Early Bird Adult Weekend Ticket, which includes a free child aged 5-16 (under 5s are always free) when ordered at the same time (camping is extra) but hurry there have only been 1,000 £99 tickets available and these are almost all gone. You can also buy a ticket for just the Rhythm Folk Festival or the Rhythm & Blues Festival. Camping is charged per tent or caravan/ campervan, NOT per person. For full details of all ticket prices and to buy tickets click here
How do I buy tickets?
Tickets can be bought online via this website, by post or by telephoning 01767 626 262 during office hours, Monday to Saturday. Please note that for telephone bookings, 5% will be added to the cost of your tickets as a booking fee (this is around 50% of the total cost of having a real person available to answer your call and the cost of card processing). The 01767 626 262 number is for buying tickets by telephone only and is NOT a general Rhythm Festivals helpline.
Orders made via the website incur a small handling charge of £1 per order but are NOT subject to booking fees. You can also buy tickets in person from Bedford Tourist Information Centre (see buy-tickets page for details). Stargreen Box Office and Seetickets are the only two ticket agencies authorised to sell Rhythm Festival tickets. Booking fees apply.
Are Online Payments secure?
100% secure. Our shopping basket is operated by Roman Cart and it connects with card payment sites using the latest, most secure methods. We do not receive any of your card or payment details, just the address you provided to send tickets. Both Skrill (Moneybookers) and Google Checkout are trusted payment providers and we have never had a case of anyone being defrauded by any of our websites.
I am having trouble buying tickets on your website – what do I do?
Please read this answer in full to find out how it all works and how you can buy tickets smoothly. There are three ways to buy tickets on this website:
- Pay by credit or debit card with the payment processed by Skrill (Moneybookers)
- Pay by credit or debit card with the payment processed by Google Checkout
- Pay by cheque.
After you click on the “Buy Tickets” button you are taken to a page similar to the one you can see on the left.
- To pay by credit or debit card through Skrill (Moneybookers) or to pay by cheque, click on Checkout
- If you would rather pay by Google Checkout click that button, though we prefer Skrill (Moneybookers).
The next page asks you to complete your delivery address details. Try and keep your address to the minimum: if you enter a field (e.g. county) your credit card company does not recognise, the transaction may be refused. Festival tickets are classed as high risk transactions and so the security checks are more stringent.
Here is a checklist of what to do (and what NOT to do) in order to make your payment go through smoothly:
- Do NOT type in all BLOCK CAPITALS
- Keep your address brief and to the point. Provided Royal Mail will be able to deliver your tickets, don’t worry about filling all the address fields.
is better than:
Mr James Richard Driver 16 The Woodlands Hither Green London Greater London SE13 6TY United Kingdom- Make sure the address you provide is the address registered with your bank or card company. You will be offered the chance to give us a delivery address (if it is different) on the next page.
If you have a problem with Skrill (Moneybookers) try Google Checkout, and vice versa.
You are only charged when the transaction is complete. When that happens you will get an automatic email from us and from Skrill or Google telling you that your card has been charged. Check your “junk” box if it doesn’t arrive within ten minutes.
I’ve bought a ticket and it’s not arrived, what do I do?
Tickets bought before the end of March will be sent out around March 26th. After that, tickets will be posted out within 7 days of your order. If your ticket has not arrived within two weeks, please contact us immediately by email. (The email address is rhythmat @ btconnect.com (remove the spaces before you email us – if in doubt, check out the contact page.)
Why can’t I buy tickets using Paypal?
After many complaints from customers concerning difficulties ordering via Paypal, we switched over to Moneybookers/ Skrill, a European credit card processing company regulated by the FSA (Paypal is not). Moneybookers offer a 100% secure environment in which to pay for Rhythm Festival tickets: they do not share your credit card details with us. You also have the option of Google Checkout and ordering by telephone (see above). Telephone sales are handled for us by the Mansion House, part of Bedford College Service Ltd.
Can I leave it until the weekend of the festival and pay on the gate?
Provided we haven’t sold out, you will be able to buy tickets on the gate using cash only. Prices will be higher than in advance. Camping tickets (if available) will be increased by £5 on the published advance prices.
What if I buy tickets less than a week before Rhythm Festival? How will I get my tickets?
Tickets purchased after 5pm on Thursday 16th August will NOT be posted. Instead your name will be listed on the “Willcall” List at the Main Entrance. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD ONLINE AFTER SUNDAY 19th AUGUST.
What if I lose my ticket or leave it behind?
Please keep your ticket safe as we cannot replace any that are lost or left behind. Sorry.
Are you selling Day Tickets this year?
We are not planning to sell any day tickets for the festivals in 2012. This is partly to try and keep the atmosphere of a weekend festival and to reduce the administrative load of having dozens of different types of tickets.
GENERAL
Who is playing this year?
All the acts that have been announced are listed on the Line Up page
How do I get there?
It’s probably easier to get to Rhythm Festivals and Biggleswade than you imagine. Details on the Travel page click here.
When can I arrive?
Campsites open at 10:30am on Friday 24th August. Wristband Exchange opens at 12noon on Friday and the Main Arena is accessible from 3pm. On Saturday and Sunday the Wristband Exchange and Main Arena both open at 10am. Wristband Exchange closes at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 6pm on Sunday. PLEASE NOTE: due to security and safety issues concerning heavy exit traffic, no vehicles will be allowed on site after 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday evenings or 8pm on Sunday. Please ensure you arrive before this time.
Am I free to come and go during the event?
Yes, provided you have a wristband fitted and do not want to drive any vehicle on to site after 9:30pm (8pm Sunday). Cars who wish to park next to their tents and campervans cannot leave once they are sited until after 8pm on Sunday. If you are in any doubt as to your expected departure, please unload your camping gear in the campsite and park your car in one of the public carparks.
Where do I get my wristband?
When you arrive on site, your tickets will be exchanged for wristbands at the ticketing office at the main entrance to the Festivals Site. This will be clearly marked. Once fitted, please look after your wristband because any that are tampered with or removed will be rendered invalid and cannot usually be replaced.
Are children admitted without adults?
No. All under 18s must be accompanied by an adult ticket-holder.
How close is the carpark to the main arena?
Although there may be a late change due to health & safetly issues, we plan to park cars near the entrance to the site, approximately 100 metres from the Main Arena.
Do I have to bring ID with me?
Not unless you need to prove your age. Only those wearing adult weekend wristbands will be able to buy drinks from the bars.
Are animals allowed into Rhythm Festival?
Only registered guide dogs will be allowed on to the camping sites or into the Main Arena.
Can I bring my own drink with me?
Due to licensing restrictions, no alcohol can be taken into the Festivals Arenas. The bars inside will be selling alcoholic drinks at prices roughly equivalent to those in local pubs. You can take your own drink into the camp sites.
What time does music start and finish?
Friday entertainment starts at 4pm and finishes (on the main stage) just before midnight. On Saturday the Main Arena opens at 10am and music starts at 12noon and finishes just before midnight. Sunday opening hours are the same, with the main stage finishing around 11pm. Indoor events will go on longer.
Does anything happen once the main stage shuts down?
Yes. We’re working on a great line-up of DJs and events who will play various styles of music on record until 2am.
How do I get medical attention on site?
Rhythm Festival has 24 hour medical cover. Please contact a member of the medical staff or any steward to gain assistance.
Are there shops nearby?
There will a Festival General Store between the entrance to the Festivals Arena and the main campsites entrance. This will stock camping essentials: newspapers, bacon, eggs, wipes, tampons, etc – even cigarettes! The village of Old Warden is around a mile away, but does not seem to have any shops (we’re still looking!). There is a large Sainsbury supermarket at the roundabout on the A1 (around two and a half miles from Old Warden Park) that has cash machines.
Is there a cash machine on site?
No. I am afraid the cost of getting one installed on site is prohibitive. The nearest FREE cashpoint is at Sainsbury’s beside the A1 (see above). We suggest you stop off there on the way to the Festival and withdraw the amount of cash you think you will need for the three days.
CAMPING/ ACCOMMODATION
Are the student rooms of Shuttleworth College available for hire during the festival?
Yes, a limited number (around 50) single student rooms can be booked during Rhythm Festivals. Click here for more details and to buy B&B.
Are there any hotels or B&Bs nearby?
Yes, click here to check them out.
Is there a camping area for people with disabilities?
Yes, but space is limited. Please see the Disabled page for details.
Is there a separate camping area for families?
Yes, we are working on having four separate camping areas: Family, General, “Country” (less lights and more rural) and Disabled. These may be added to or subtracted from as we get nearer the festivals. You will be able to choose your camping area on arrival (subject to availability).
Can I bring a caravan or campervan to the festival?
Yes, provided you buy the relevant Campervan/Caravan ticket. Click for details.
Can my friends and I party around a campfire?
No. Campfires are strictly prohibited by our license. Cooking, using small barbecues, is permitted by campervan and campsite ticket-holders only, within the designated campsites. Fires must be contained within purpose-built barbecues, raised from the ground and operated in a safe and responsible manner.
How do I get to camp next to my friends?
Due to the way in which tent spaces are allocated, those who want to camp together will have to arrive together..
Can I use the awning on my campervan?
Yes, provided it does not take up too much room. If it is particularly large you may have to buy an extra camping space. Our camping spaces are larger than at most festivals, but not huge!
