Wildfire 2017 formerly Les-Fest will become the rock festival that champions new and emerging rock talent, as it announces main stage slots.
In the first of three announcements in the coming months on the 60-strong bill for June 2017, Wildfire is making a commitment to be the rock festival that puts emerging rock bands first – with 45 band slots on the two main stages ring-fenced specifically for new and unsigned talent.
The timing is important. The sheer number of exciting new rock bands emerging from across the UK – from Scotland to Devon, Northern Ireland to South Wales, the Midlands to Brighton presents compelling evidence there is a new wave of British rock emerging – and much of this talent will not get to break unless it is given a proper platform. With new nationwide research of 2,000 rock fans, out today, revealing the biggest threat to rock music is the closure of small, grassroots venues (35%) – Wildfire aims to fill the gap by making new bands the main focus of the 2017 festival.
The three-day festival, held in the grounds of the sumptuous Wiston Lodge country estate - a stone’s throw from Glasgow and Edinburgh - has frozen prices for 2017 to ensure people of all walks of life can attend. This decision follows a YouGov poll, where rock fans across the UK said rock festivals being cheaper to go to (32%) was the most important factor that would improve the future of rock in the UK.
Further, Wildfire extends its reputation as a great weekend break for the whole family with children’s tickets prices fixed at just £1. Beyond giving children their first live concert experience, a range of music workshops are planned for children and teenagers that want to have their first experience of playing or learning an instrument with rock mentors.
Dave Ritchie, Founder and Director of Wildfire Festival commented: “We started out as Scotland’s only rock and metal festival but the changing dynamics in the music industry calls for much more structured support to be given to help break new and exciting bands. This has become our mission. With us, new music is not a sideshow or an add-on, it’s the reason to come to our festival – and we are passionate about ensuring there is a future for rock music.
“Today, we’re delighted to announce our first tranche of bands for Wildfire 2017, which will present the definitive showcase of new bands next June. For anyone that wants to discover and back new bands there is one place to be next June – Wildfire Festival.”
Published on 24 November 2016 by Ben Robinson
