Family entertainment and musical maestros on show.
Wychwood Festival has announced this year’s full line-up for this eclectic, family friendly, annual music festival held at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire from 3-5th June.
For one weekend, Cheltenham racecourse is transformed into a family-friendly, three-day festival including music, workshops, comedy, a Children’s Literature Festival, headphone disco, healing gardens and much more, plus camping set in the beautiful Prestbury Hills, with children under five years and parking are free.
All the stops have been pulled out for a chock-a-block program of live artists, headlining on Friday will be Murder on the Dancefloor and Groovejet chanteuse Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who shot to fame as a vocalist on Spiller’s huge number one single and whose debut album sold more than two million copies worldwide. Plus, the only group to have their record played twice in a row on his radio show by John Peel, Derry’s finest export The Undertones will grace the stage and keep the Teenage Kicks coming. And if disco is more your style Boney M will have you 100% freaking, boogying, hustling, bumping, to their infectious disco classics.
One of the most requested artists to have performed at Wychwood return on Saturday – The Levellers, fresh from their recent UK tour to support the re-release of their platinum-selling 1991 album Levelling The Land, which features hit singles One Way, 15 Years and Far From Home and Battle Of The Beanfield. Joining the bill with sky-high energy are 2-Tone legends The Selector, along with Doctor and the Medics, The Real Thing and if comedy is your thing, be sure to check out the world’s only female comedy magician – the marvelous award-winning Mandy Muden. And do not miss Basil Brush as he graces the stage with his anarchic sense of fun.
Making their first ever appearance and closing the festival on Sunday 5th June will be Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue alongside legendary bassist of Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook, backed by his band The Light. Also, nine piece band The South who feature former members of The Beautiful South including singer Alison Wheeler and sax player Gaz Birtles.
Afternoon merriment comes from one of the UK’s foremost Funk & Soul commentators. Craig Charles has captivated crowds throughout the UK – the maestro of funk has played at numerous festivals and played to over 10,000 people at the world-famous Arcadia and Shangri-La stage in Glastonbury. Plus unique fusion of dub, electronic and folk from Dreadzone.
Throughout the weekend you can indulge in drop in workshops and brush up on your dance moves with everything from Capoeira to Charleston or learn a new skill from model making to circus tricks . There is a huge array of arts and crafting opportunities for all the family from rod puppet making, messy painting, clay modelling, cross stitching culminating in a special parade on Sunday afternoon showcasing all the fantastic things made over the weekend.
Or instead you can just lay back and take in a range of performances, storytelling and poetry such as A Mid-festival’s Dream, whilst in the Children’s Literature section drop in on talks with artists and illustrators such as Steve Cole who brings to life – Dr Who Combat Magicks, Gabriel Dylan & Bryony Pearce discuss, Whiteout and Cruel Castle and John Dougherty reads from Dinosaurs and Dinner Ladies.
Whether it is watching a festival favourite, exploring new music and comedy, getting creative with a workshop or soaking in a dance performance there are so many experiences to be had over the weekend – Wychwood Festival is so much more than just a music festival.
More information and ticket sales can be found here.