SHUFFLE co-founder Rich Craven was sitting in the Vic back in 2006 when the idea for a Swindon music festival popped into his head.

“I’d been chatting with my friend (and fellow Shuffle founder) Phil Dyson about arranging a fundraising gig for the Prospect Hospice and showcasing some of the best in local music,” he said.

“Over the course of that fateful evening it became clear to both of us that there was a lot of great music being made in and around the town (we’d seen this through the Songs of Praise night which we’d founded earlier that year). Four bands became 10 bands and it was clear we needed more than one venue.”

Before long The Beehive, The Rolleston and Riffs Bar were on board and an event similar to The Oxford Punt and The Camden Crawl was on the cards. And the festival, now in its eighth year, has gone from strength to strength.

“The Shuffle has kept evolving,” said Rich. “Swindon continues to punch above its weight musically, there are new and exciting bands forming year on year, and we haven’t stood still.

“There’s still a hunger to create new music and an audience for it. The Shuffle is the sum of its parts, it’s non-exclusive, and anyone can get involved. It’s run by the people of Swindon for the people of Swindon, pulling together for a common cause, sharing a love of new and exciting music.”

Even though it is an indoor event and generally not subject to the ravages of the weather, it did have one near miss 2007 when torrential floods hit the town.

“Band members were stranded across the county as trains were cancelled and roads were closed,” said Rich.

“I’d popped outside The Vic to reassess whether we’d have enough bands to put on an entire evening of music and to my delight I saw this crowd of people walking up Vic Hill, many of whom had walked from North Swindon, Gorse Hill and further afield to make sure they got to the venue. There was that level of determination to make the festival work.”

Rich is hopeful the Shuffle will remain a mainstay of the Swindon music scene for many years to come.

“In recent years the festival has branched out to include more venues, different genres of music and also contributions from the wider arts scene – it’s a celebration of the music and arts around the town with the focus on new, unsigned musical talent. As long as people are making new and exciting music I can see the Shuffle running for many years to come.”