Splendour Headliner Announcement: Manic Street Preachers and more

Festival Crowd Header
Lineup Poster

Manic Street Preachers and The Specials will headline this year’s Splendour, Saturday 20 July 2019.

The two bands have an outstanding back catalogue with more than 20 combined UK top 10 hits, including If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next and The Masses Against The Classes from Manic Street Preachers and Too Much Too Young and the legendary Ghost Town from The Specials.

Manic Street Preachers were in high demand by Splendour fans, bagging the top spot of who they’d like to see at the festival in a survey conducted by the organisers, DHP Family. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield on lead vocals and lead guitar, Sean Moore on drums and Nicky Wire on bass.

Throughout the band’s illustrious career they headlined several festivals including Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, T in the Park, and V Festival and gained a host of music accolades including 11 NME Awards, eight Q Awards and four BRIT Awards. As well as their Triple Platinum album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, the band have had 13 UK top 10 albums, including Everything Must Go and their latest album Resistance Is Futile. This will be the band’s first Nottingham appearance since their 2007 Rock City show.

The Specials are one of the most electrifying, influential and important bands of all time and return to Splendour hot on the heels of a special 40th anniversary tour celebrating their formation and the two-tone label. Formed in Coventry in 1977, the trend-starting ska revival band hit the British music scene hard. In the UK their debut single Gangsters shot to number six and every subsequent single was a top 10 hit, including two number one hits - Too Much Too Young and the much loved Ghost Town, which won ‘Single of the Year 1981’ in NME, Melody Maker and Sounds.

Encore is the band’s first new studio album in more than 38 years, produced by founding members Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter. The highly anticipated new album will be released on 1st February 2019 and is already drawing widespread critical acclaim.

George Akins, DHP Family owner, said: “Manic Street Preachers and The Specials are two legendary bands and have made a huge mark on the UK music scene. We’re delighted to have them both with us on the main stage at Splendour celebrating two very special anniversaries. The crowd can expect a belter set of some of their greatest hits.”

Manic Street Preachers and The Specials are the first of over 40 acts announced to perform at Nottinghamshire’s biggest outdoor music event at Wollaton Park, with many more artists, comedians and entertainers to be revealed in the coming months.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Localities at Nottingham City Council said: “Splendour has been a part of Nottingham’s events calendar for over 10 years now, which is a real testament to its popularity with both locals and visitors alike. This year’s festival promises to be another great day out for all the family and, once again, City residents can enjoy £10 off adult tickets.”

With lots happening all over the park aside from the three music stages, including comedy in the courtyard, a kids' area and entertainers out and about in the crowd, the festival is a fantastic day out for all the family.

Children under 11 will once again be admitted free and discounts are also in place for Nottingham City residents. Including booking fee, a standard ticket is £56.65, coming down to £45.65 when the Nottingham City discount is applied. Tickets for Nottingham City residents aged 11-17 are £22. VIP packages are also available and start from £87.65 for a Nottingham City adult.

Published on 26 January 2019 by UKFG

Recent News More news

  • Beat-Herder Festival Unveils Spectacular Line-Up for 2026 Edition

    Beat-Herder Festival, known for its unique DIY spirit and immersive experiences, marks its 21st year with a stellar line-up featuring Faithless, Wilkinson, Sigma, and more. Dive into the details of the festival and what attendees can expect across its diverse stages and performances.

  • Iconic Names Join Line Up For 10th Edition of Magical Family Festival

    Gloworm Festival marks its milestone 10th year with a stellar lineup featuring iconic names like SpongeBob SquarePants and Nick Cope, alongside a plethora of new attractions and experiences, promising an unforgettable weekend for families at Thoresby Park.

  • Somerset House Summer Series 2026 Line-Up Unveiled with American Expr

    The Somerset House Summer Series 2026, in partnership with American Express, has revealed a stellar lineup of diverse and talented artists set to perform in the iconic courtyard this July. From breakthrough sensations to seasoned legends, the festival promises an unforgettable musical journey for at

  • Dot To Dot Festival 2026 Unveils Exciting Second Wave Line-Up

    Dot To Dot Festival reveals an impressive second wave of acts for its 2026 edition, featuring renowned artists like Mandy, Indiana, Ratboys, Lucia & The Best Boys, and more. The festival, known for showcasing emerging talent, is set to take place across late May in Bristol and Nottingham

Upcoming Festivals Browse all

  • Immersed Festival

    07 March 2026

    Immersed Festival 2026 Join Immersed Festival on Saturday 7th March 2026 at the Tramshed on Clare Road, Cardiff, Glamorgan. This one-day event celebrates creativity across music, film, art, fashion, ...

  • Aberdeen Jazz Festival

    12 March - 22 March 2026

    Aberdeen Jazz Festival 2026 From 12 to 22 March 2026, Aberdeen Jazz Festival returns to Lanarkshire, Scotland, offering ten days of live jazz across the city’s cafes, pubs, and concert halls. Set aga...

  • C2C: Country to Country

    13 March - 15 March 2026

    C2C: Country to Country 2026 Taking place from 13–15 March 2026, C2C: Country to Country returns to various UK cities for a three-night celebration of country music across London, Glasgow, and ...