Headlined by two-tone revivalists The Specials, the all dayer in the beautiful grounds of Wollaton Park is set to be one of the biggest summer days out across the Midlands on July 18 2015. Continuing the strong line up on the main stage as special guests are the legendary James, perhaps best known for anthemic hits such as ‘Sit Down’, ‘She’s A Star’ and ‘Laid’. With all seven band members coming back to reform in 2007, the Manchester band released their 13th studio album La Petite Mort last year to critical acclaim and showed the unique James magic is still firmly in place with engaging powerful songs that demand to be heard live.
Promoter DHP Family, in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Confetti, has been working hard behind the scenes to bring the perfect mix of long-loved heritage acts alongside contemporary pop artists to cater for all the family.
One of the best all female pop bands of all time, Bananarama joins the bill for Splendour headlining the Confetti Stage. The band already share history with The Specials lead singer Terry Hall who tracked the girls down to perform with Fun Boy Three, the trio he formed with two other bandmates, for the single ‘It Ain’t What You Do It’s The Way That You Do It’. Will Splendour see the girls join Terry and co on stage?
With 32 Top 40 UK hits, they went on to support everyone from Iggy Pop to Paul Weller. For the next ten years the girls were everywhere and so were their hits, all penned by the girls themselves. As their biography says ‘Bananarama were not a manufactured band but three friends who came from the London Club scene with a Punk attitude and were always in control of their own destiny.’
Singer of the moment Jess Glynne, best known for featuring on Clean Bandit’s ‘Rather Be’, which made number one in the UK and can also be heard on the current M&S food advertising campaign, as well as debut single, ‘Right Here’, will be bringing her distinctive voice to the main stage.
With their latest single Roads out in May and an eagerly anticipated album due out later this year, pop rockers Lawson will have plenty of fresh material to excite the crowd alongside songs from their debut album Chapman Square and their six top 20 hit singles including Juliet and When She Was Mine. Joining them on the main stage and described as ‘the voice of urban Britain’ by The Times, MOBO award winner, vocalist and rapper Roots Manuva, best known for the hit single ‘Witness The Fitness’, will be bringing his UK hip hop style to Wollaton’s lush fields.
The full main stage line up is The Specials, James, Jess Glynne, Lawson, Roots Manuva, Amber Run and To Kill A King and the day will be opened by the winner of the Future Sound of Nottingham competition.
The search to find the best unsigned local act to open the festival is underway once again with the Future Sound of Nottingham now open for entries, building up to the chance to play the Rock City final on June 14 2015. For more details, visit www.nusic.org.uk
Keeping up the tradition for bringing the best of the local scene to the attention of 20,000 crowd, will be Amber Run, the band who formed at Nottingham University, with a huge indie-rock sound laden with hooks and driving choruses that looks a surefire bet to be filling stadiums some time soon. Expect a great response from their growing fan base to tracks such as the anthemic ‘Just My Soul Responding’; ‘I Found’ and ‘Spark’ hot on the heels of the release of their debut album, ‘5am’, on April 27 through RCA Victor.
For something completely different, head over to the Confetti Stage where the Mansfield crew Ferocious Dog will be delivering their own take on Celtic folk by mixing up traditional instruments – fiddles, whistles, mandolins – with a bit of rock n’ roll attitude. With their unique, aggressive yet feel-good music they are a favourite in the city making history last year by becoming the only unsigned act to ever sell out the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, not only once but twice.
Second on the bill to Bananarama on the Confetti stage are Birmingham indie-rockers The Twang. Hailed by the NME as ‘Britain’s best new band’ when they emerged, their second single Either Way was a top 10 hit and strongly championed by Radio 1 while the band commanded a prestigious headline slot at Glastonbury on the John Peel Stage. The Twang have kept the albums coming and the anthemic guitar rock of their latest, NEONTWANG, is sure to keep the audience moving.
Confirmed for the Confetti stage are Bananarama, The Twang, Ferocious Dog, Iris Gold, Keto, The Swiines and Georgie.
Completing the feast of live music will be the line up on the Acoustic Rooms stage, named after the popular weekly event at the Rescue Rooms. Joy Mumford, Eyre Llew, Hhymn, Jamie Lawson, Molly and Jack, RJMARKS, Daudi Matsiko and Cedric Peters make up the offer for the final stage.
At the bottom of the courtyard, the popular Funhouse Comedy stage compered by amiable cheeky-chappie Brummie Andy Robinson will once again be entertaining the crowds throughout the day and into the evening. Ian D. Montfort, the Sunderland psychic creation of character comedian Tom Binns, very convincingly uses the cold reading of stage mediums to debunk their techniques with fantastically funny interactions with his audience. Bringing his musical comedy act Lost in Music, Christian Reilly, now an international comedian playing all the major comedy venues, started out in Nottingham. Expect sharp wit combined with effortless charm and the occasional snipe at histrionic rock bands, musical theatre and morose indie musicians. Presenter Ellie Taylor of BBC3 dating show ‘Song, Marry, Avoid’, awesome Aussie improviser John Robertson and brilliant young musical comedy duo Jollyboat complete the comedic offer.
The entertainment doesn’t stop away from the main stages with loads for children on offer including fairground rides, and a free kids area hosted by Big Top Mania, featuring circus skills workshops and shows, crazy inflatables, giant bubbles and Big Bear’s Big Balloon Disco.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Sport and Leisure at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s great to see more much-loved groups being added to the Splendour line-up. We’re looking forward to a fantastic family summer day out in the beautiful surroundings of Wollaton Park.”
Tickets for Splendour start at £20 for 11-17-year-olds and £34 for adults with a citycard. Children 10 and under go free. Available from here.
To get the latest line-up announcements and festival updates go to www.splendourfestival.com or like www.facebook.com/splendourfestivalUK or follow @splendourfest.
MAIN STAGE
The Specials
James
Jess Glynne
Lawson
Roots Manuva
Amber Run
To Kill A King
NUSIC Competition Winner
CONFETTI STAGE
Bananarama
The Twang
Ferocious Dog
Iris Gold
Keto
The Swiines
Georgie
COMEDY STAGE
Andy Robinson (Compere)
Ian D. Montfort
Christian Reilly
Ellie Taylor
John Robertson
Jollyboat
ACOUSTIC ROOMS STAGE
Joy Mumford
Eyre Llew
Hhymn
Jamie Lawson
Molly and Jack
RJMARKS
Daudi Matsiko
Cedric Peters
