Wychwood Festival has today announced that cult 80s new wave band The Human League to headline Saturday’s mainstage at this year’s ninth annual outing.
In addition to this, the festival is thrilled to welcome a wealth of musical talent from the likes of Mercury Prize nominee Sam Lee, audio visual wizards Public Service Broadcasting and legendary ska, pop and reggae band The Beat, who will return to Wychwood for the second time having last appeared on the mainstage back in 2009. Wychwood Festival will also be inviting esteemed London promoters SMASHING BLOUSE to programme the Big Top’s evening line-up with a veritable who's who of the most up and coming bands from the past year. The promoters will be celebrating their first anniversary in February at an exclusive event at Bar Music Hall in Hoxton, London. Taking place at Cheltenham Race Course from 31st May – 2nd June, Wychwood Festival organisers are pleased to announce that day tickets are now on sale and that the age limit for children attending for free has been raised from under five year's old to under ten in these time's of austerity. Full tickets details and much more information is available via the official Wychwood website.
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The Human League boast nine studio albums, four EPs and thirty singles selling over 20 million records across the last 30 years. A phenomenal back catalogue with big electro pop hits Don’t You Want Me, Mirror Man and Love Action, they are the ultimate Saturday headline act guaranteed to rouse the festival field into a musical frenzy. Caravan Palace join Saturday’s Mainstage line-up with their French electro swing and Gypsy Jazz whilst the English Indie folk band, Moulettes, who formed in 2002 in Glastonbury with their five strong ensemble that includes Ted Dwane of Mumford and Sons, bringing a charismatic, idiosyncratic brand of modern folk music set to enthrall audiences. The final act announced for Saturday’s Mainstage is 70s band Eddie & The Hot Rods for a real taste of good time rock-n-roll.
Saturday’s Big Top will welcome London electronic duo Public Service Broadcasting for the first time who will be showcasing their exciting, audio visual instrumental experience currently enjoying the seal of approval of BBC 6Music. Taking samples from old public information files, archive footage and propaganda material, their attempts to "teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future" are proving to be entertaining, fascinating and a must-see this summer. Returning to Wychwood Festival, John Otway will perform in the Big Top with his surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona that has earned him a sizeable cult following.
Festival organisers are thrilled to welcome The Beat back to the festival to perform on the Friday mainstage with their fusion of ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock. Bringing infectious and powerful tracks to the stage, including Mirror in the Bathroom, Hand’s Off She’s Mine and Tears of a Clown they have become a firm festival favourite. 2012 Mercury Prize nominee Sam Lee also joins Friday’s mainstage line-up with his naturally gifted homegrown talent earning him the widely accepted title of pioneer within the folk world.
Sunday’s line-up welcomes The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain that has been described as funny, virtuosic, twanging, awesome, foot-stomping obituary of rock-n-roll – an astonishing revelation of the rich palette and have a huge international following. Formed in 1985, the formidable Ukulele Orchestra has gone on to sell out the Sydney Opera House, The Royal Albert Hall on more than one occasion and collaborations have included Madness, David Arnold, The British Film Institute, The Ministry of Sound, Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) and the Kaiser Chiefs. Their performance is one not to be missed.
SMASHING BLOUSE SESSIONS
For the first time in the festival’s history, Wychwood Festival organisers will invite esteemed London promoters SMASHING BLOUSE to programme the Big Top’s evening programme across the weekend. Run by Jesse Woods, Alex Mitchell and Sam Cunningham and drawing on a lifetime surrounded by musical influencers such as Jesse’s father Ronnie Wood and partner Fearne Cotton, they have hosted hugely successful music events across the capital. Over the past twelve months they have been collectively responsible for showcasing an enviable list of new talent that includes the most exciting music to emerge onto the scene in recent years.
Friday sees vintage synchs and distant disco vibes from indefinable Bristol mob The Other Side who are already en-route to injecting British dance music with a distinctly different shade of nostalgic floor fuel. Polarsets will also perform their tropical indie sound with euphoric dance beats and an undercurrent of energetic indie.
Saturday sees Brighton five-piece Cave Painting with their wealth of music that glows with beauty and vision, East London’s unsentimental nostalgia guitar band History of Apple Pie with their hard hitting anthems, four piece Mt. Wolf who are gathering huge attention from all quarters with their ‘Dreamfolk’ described sound of cinematic folk and electronica that has been likened to Sigur Rós (Clash).Last but by no means least in the first batch of bookings for Saturday's Smashing Blouse Big Top billing is Dems, the talented trio that are making waves with their captivating collection of tracks.
Lloyd Yates will perform on Sunday’s Smashing Blouse Sessions with his unique, consistent and emotional sound and beautifully crafted live performance. A perfect Sunday addition to the Wychwood Festival line-up.
Wychwood Festival boasts an eclectic programme that includes indie, folk, rock and world music with some of the most talented emerging artists on the UK’s music scene at the moment appearing alongside industry veterans and cult classics across an exceptional weekend of entertainment. This year’s ninth successive year will see revellers flock to the stunning Gloucestershire countryside to experience an utterly delightful atmosphere enjoyed by all who choose to place it in their summer calendar. Today Wychwood announces new acts to ensure festival lovers make Wychwood their number one stop this summer. Day tickets now on sale.
Published on 22 January 2013 by Ben Robinson
