The Andover community has once again come together in spectacular fashion, as the Andover Rocks Festival, held from 27th to 29th March, raised an impressive £4,400 for adult mental health support.
The funds raised will go towards musical intervention therapy, an initiative that provides a wide range of workshops designed to support adults experiencing mental health challenges. These sessions use music as a powerful tool to improve wellbeing, build confidence, and encourage social connection.
This year’s festival proved to be one of the biggest yet, with more than 400 performers and volunteers taking part across 17 venues throughout the town. From intimate acoustic sets to lively full-band performances, the weekend showcased the very best of Andover’s thriving music scene while supporting a vital cause.
Building on this success, Andover Rocks has announced an exciting new initiative — monthly Sober Café sessions at Andover Community Engage (ACE) on Bridge Street. These events will offer a relaxed, alcohol-free environment where people can enjoy live music in a welcoming and inclusive setting. The sessions will be unplugged, creating a more intimate atmosphere aimed at fostering connection and wellbeing.
Festival founder and organiser Marie “MJ” Ponting praised the community’s efforts and highlighted the importance of the cause:
“I am so proud of Andover for raising so much money for musical intervention in adults mental health. This is going to provide the sober café which is a much needed resource and I believe this will be hugely successful. Thank you to everyone that came out and supported this event, and thank you to all the performers and volunteers for making it another brilliant weekend. Looking and planning ahead for 2027.”
The first Sober Café session is set to take place on 24th April 2026 from 7pm, marking the beginning of what organisers hope will become a staple in Andover’s community calendar.
With another successful festival completed and new initiatives already underway, Andover Rocks continues to demonstrate the powerful impact of music in bringing people together and supporting mental health.