New festival champions Midlands talent
The long-established Midlands event The Big Session Festival is coming to a new home at Catton Park, South Derbyshire. The event's organisers are delighted to present a wealth of Midlands talent alongside nationally acclaimed acts.
The long-established Midlands event The Big Session Festival is coming to a new home at Catton Park, South Derbyshire. The event's organisers are delighted to present a wealth of Midlands talent alongside nationally acclaimed acts.
The Big Session Festival will run from June 15-17 at Catton Park, featuring a wide range of roots, acoustic, dance and rock music in its superb location beside the River Trent.
As well as full musical line-up, there will be a packed programme of activities for children and families and a real ale & cider festival.
One of the first acts announced for the festival is The Leisure Society,a band with its roots firmly in Burton-Upon-Trent. Dubbed the English answer to popular American acts such as Fleet Foxes, the band's debut singleThe Last of the Melting Snow was nominated for the 2009 Ivor Novello Award for best song.
Ivor Novello Award Winner Scott Matthews is also Midlands-based and is widely acclaimed as a singer-songwriter. He has delighted crowds at many festivals and one of his singles, Elusive, was chosen as record of the week by BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe.
Other Midlands-based acts include Lucy Ward (Derby), Alexa Hawksworth, Anna Elias and Richard Warren (Nottingham), Chris Tye and Dan Whitehouse (Birmingham).
Big names from the national music scene include Eddi Reader (formerly with chart-topping band Fairground Attraction) and Show of Hands, probably the best-loved and most successful acoustic duo in the UK. Big Session originators Oysterband will bring their politically charged rock sound to the festival and will be joined by multi-award-winning vocalist June Tabor.
Other acts include Disraeli and the Small Gods who effortlessly blend cutting edge poetry with folk and hip hop; The Treacherous Orchestra, the 13 Celtic Big Band; Chumbawamba and their politically fuelled acoustic pop and the collaborative open Songwriters Circle session "State of the Union" hosted by legendary songwriter Boo Herwerdine.
Emerging artists include Kami Thompson (the daughter of ex-Fairport Richard Thompson); Jesca Hoop, who recently supported Elbow on their UK and USA tour and BBC 6 Music favourite Jake Morley.
Organisers are keen to make this a real local occasion and welcome artist, musicians, sculptures, arts organisations and performers from the region to get in touch and get involved.
The Big Session is independent of major corporate sponsors and branding and prides itself as a Midlands run festival for the Midlands.
Tickets cost from £30. Whole weekend, camping, day and children's tickets all available. Visit www.bigsessionfestival.com
Full Line Up:
Eddi Reader / The Leisure Society / Oysterband and June Tabor / Show of Hands / Scott Matthews / Roddy Woomble / Dizraeli and the Small Gods / Treacherous Orchestra / Martin Simpson Band / Chumbawamba / Chris Wood / Jesca Hoop / Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings / State of the Union - Songwriters Circle/ Kris Drever / Abandoman / DJ Pete Lawrence / Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell / The Magic Tombolinos / Kami Thompson / Paper Aeroplanes / Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party / Jake Morley / Merry Hell / Lucy Ward / Gavin Osborn / Walsh & Pound / Richard Warren / More Like Trees / Mawkin / Urusen / Duotone / Sam Brookes / Chris Tye / Anna Elias & the Forlorn Hope / Alexa Hawksworth / Lisbbe Stainton / Blue Rose Code / Jess Morgan / Fran Smith / Simon Care
