Steve Harley, Fairport, Strawbs and Spinners among big names lined up for major Midlands music festival
- Acoustic Festival of Britain set for packed weekend of family entertainment in May
An all-star line-up of rock, folk and blues artists are heading for Uttoxter for this year's Acoustic Festival Of Britain
Headline acts include Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel, Welsh songstress Cerys Matthews, US rock and bluegrass band Hayseed Dixie and singer-songwriter and actress Hazel O'Connor.
Folk-rock veterans
Fairport Convention will be there along with members of Liverpool's folk legends
The Spinners making their first appearance in 21 years and receiving a lifetime achievement award. Classic electric folk band
The Strawbs are on the billing plus singer-songwriter
Fish, formerly with rock heroes, Marillion, and now performing an acoustic set with his band
The Fishheads.
Other big attractions include
Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash,
The Quireboys,
Rory Mcleod,
Sicknote Steve and
Eric Faulkner formerly of The Bay City Rollers.
Now in its sixth year the festival takes place on Uttoxeter Race Course, Staffordshire on the of weekend, Friday to Monday, May 20-22.
The family friendly event features an eclectic programme of music with the emphasis on the unplugged sounds of folk, roots, Celtic, blues, pop, ska, rock and burlesque.
The organisers are laying on a fully equipped campsite (with hot showers and flushing loos!) and a wide selection of craft stalls, classes in juggling, drumming, didgeredoo and guitar, storytelling sessions, comedy, tribal dancing, belly dancing, morris dancing, face painting and stilt walkers.
With full weekend tickets at £90, including camping, organisers are convinced that this is the best-value music event of its kind in the UK.
Says organiser, Mike Stephens, 'The all-acoustic format makes this a unique and popular event. Visitors will see a fabulous range of artists from a wide range of genres and musical backgrounds performing in a warm and intimate atmosphere. It's going to be a fantastic four days.'
Tickets are available online from www.acousticfestival.co.uk or can be booked on 0333 9000 919.
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