Margate Mod & Sixties Festival

The Mod’s return to Margate for the annual Whitsun weekender fifty years after the much maligned media headlines from those heady mid sixties days.

Headlines like ‘Wild Ones beat up Margate’, The local judge Dr George Simpson dished out hefty fines and punishments for minor incidents (when you compare today’s hideous crimes) meant that the scene was set for future clashes with every thug knowing exactly where to get his kicks the next bank holiday. By now the originators had seen enough and became sharp blokes or ladies/stylists distancing themselves from the crowd as no self respecting Mod would want to ruin his clobber.

After a decade or more in decline the fortunes of Margate are starting to turn around with the vision of Thanet Council and people like Eli Thompson from the Westcoast CIC who we have teamed up with to deliver this event.

The Turner Arts Centre and Dreamland projects have also made Margate the place on everyone’s lips right now. The old town where the weekend’s festivities take place is buzzing with boutique shops, restaurants, gallery’s, cafes and emporiums.

Like Brighton, Margate has a long association with the Mod scene starting way before those headline grabbing days and continuing throughout the end of the last century with a strong local scene, great bands, clubs and scooter runs with it’s close proximity to London.

GBMC (Great British Music Culture) have put together a program that will be sure to thrill you over the Whitsun weekend. Over three evenings and two daytime events we have put together a stellar program of live acts, internationally renowned & local DJ’s, scooter run and show, market & record fair. Sunday’s finale is an Northern Soul Allnighter in the main room with authentic Mod Club sounds in the Black Cat.

All evening events are at the Westcoast/Black Cat club which has two DJ rooms and main stage. Daytime events are on King Street outside the Black Cat with ample parking space for scooters. There is a stage with 5 live bands over 2 days and DJ sessions, scooter show and comp, market, food and drinks.