TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL + TONIC RIDER
ANNOUNCE BACKSTAGE RIDER WILL INCLUDE
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, CREW AND STAFF
– 8 APRIL @ PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL –
FINAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW
TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL have announced that they will be teaming up with TONIC RIDER to provide mental health support for artists, crew and staff at this year’s festival.
This unique collaboration will see Takedown become the first festival to offer such mental health charity resources backstage when it takes over Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 8th April.
The Tonic Rider team, who consist of mental health professionals with a background in the music industry, will be positioned in the green room offering information about their programme, and free resources, along with one-to-one support in a private space, if and when required. This will form part of Tonic Rider’s expansion of the programme in 2023, which includes backstage support at festivals and gigs across the UK.
Tonic Rider is a programme created by the registered charity, Tonic Music for Mental Health (‘Tonic’), with the aim of promoting good mental health in the music industry. The programme was launched in 2021 and consists of online training courses, support groups, taught workshops and one-to-one sessions exclusively for anyone working in the music industry.
Alongside the backstage support, Tonic will also provide their Never Mind the Stigma stand offering information and support to attendees at the festival. This will be positioned near the box office with Tonic t-shirts and merch available to purchase, with all proceeds funding the Never Mind the Stigma programme.
Jeordie Shenton, Tonic Rider Coordinator said “We are delighted to be offering mental health support to artists, crew and staff working at a music festival for the first time, and even more so, that it will be at Takedown Festival in Tonic’s hometown of Portsmouth. Throughout 2023 we will be expanding our programme of backstage support and we are thankful to the Takedown team for providing this opportunity.”
Sarah Harris, Festival Director said “Takedown is extremely proud to be working with Tonic Rider. The music industry is notoriously hard on its workers due to various different factors and the promotion of good mental health for artists, crew and staff is key to individuals thriving. We are very pleased to have resources backstage and for fans at Takedown 2023.”
The South’s fan and band favourite independent alternative rock and metal festival makes its return in 2023 with a mind-blowing line-up that screams “we’re back!”
After a 7 year hiatus, the much-loved Takedown Festival has moved from its Southampton University roots to the larger venue, Portsmouth Guildhall, with an outdoor stage also being created to guarantee a full day of festival fun for Takedowners.
The electrifying line-up that will see over 30 bands perform across 5 stages, also includes heavy hitters of the rock and metal worlds Sleep Token, Skindred, Loathe, Jamie Lenman, Punk Rock Factory, InMe, Palm Reader, Our Hollow Our Home, As December Falls, CLTDRP, Fearless Vampire Killers, The Bottom Line, Seething Akira, Ithaca, Confessions of a Traitor and Dendera with many more acts still to be announced.
TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL 2023 LINE-UP
SKINDRED
SLEEP TOKEN
LOATHE
PUNK ROCK FACTORY
INME
JAMIE LENMAN
PALM READER
AS DECEMBER FALLS
SAINT AGNES
OUR HOLLOW OUR HOME
BOTTOM LINE
FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
SEETHING AKIRA
CLT DRP
SLACKRR
RED METHOD
DENDERA
AUTUMN FIRES
FALSE HOPE FOR THE SAVAGE
SHELL BEACH
CHAOSBAY
BALANCE BREACH
CONSVMER
ELWOOD STRAY
SUNFALL
ITHACA
CONFESSIONS OF A TRAITOR
HEART OF A COWARD
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tonic Rider
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Takedown Festival
Website | Facebook | Instagram
About Tonic Music for Mental Health: Tonic Music for Mental Health is a mental health charity. The charity’s mission is to raise mental health awareness, challenge stigma and promote mental wellbeing through music and the arts. Its founding patron was Terry Hall (The Specials) anc fellow patrons are Barry Ashworth (Dub Pistols) and Kevin Cummins (photographer). Tonic was co-founded in 2012 by Steph Langan upon the belief that participation in music and the arts can promote and sustain the mental wellbeing of everyone involved. It consists of two programmes: Tonic Rider (for working musicians and music industry professionals) and Never Mind the Stigma.(for the general public – music fans). Tonic has previously provided the Never Mind the Stigma stand for attendees at Victorious Festival, Mucky Weekend and on tour with The Specials, Dub Pistols and The Libertines. Tonic Music for Mental Health is a charity registered in England and Wales (1189913). To find out more, please visit the Tonic Music for Mental Health website at: tonicmusic.co.uk
About Tonic Rider: Tonic Rider is a programme created by the registered charity, Tonic Music for Mental Health, with the aim of promoting good mental health in the music industry. The programme was launched in 2021 and consists of online training courses, support groups, taught workshops and one-to-one sessions exclusively for working musicians and music industry professionals in the UK. This includes Peer Support Groups (funded by Help Musicians) supervised by Adam Ficek (psychotherapist / musician – Babyshambles), Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid Lite courses. Alongside this, Tonic Rider also produce free mental health booklets and zines specifically around working i, the music industry, including stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and suicide awareness. In 2023, Tonic Rider will be expanding their work by providing backstage mental health support for artists, crew and staff at festivals and gigs across the UK. To find out more, please visit the Tonic Rider webpage at: tonicmusic.co.uk/tonic-