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The event will take place (Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August) at Escot Park, near Fairmile. It’s an alternative folk roots and reggae festival, with the stunning natural beauty of Escot providing the perfect backdrop for what promises to be a weekend to remember.
There will be a host of other things that your parents/illegitimate offspring may enjoy; as well as a bar that – shock horror – won’t be serving piss awful Carling.
Headlining the Main Stage on Saturday is Jamaican reggae legend Lee 'Scratch' Perry. The Grand Master of reggae will be joined by special guest Macka B. Joining them on Saturday will be American ska funkers Fishbone, veteran folk bandits Oysterband, who celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and blues sensation The Groundhogs who are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.
Not everyone is old though. They will be joined on the Main Stage by the Stateside Hombres (ex EMF DJ/producers Milf and Steve Bracewell), Lockdown Project, The Crimea, Bleeding Hearts and The Collectiv.
Headlining the BIG TOP stage will by psychedelic rockers Senser, who have recently re-grouped with their original line-up. They will be joined by Mad Professor, one of the leading figures in the history of dub and reggae. Other bands in the BIG TOP include Terminalhead, Goldblade (featuring some time DiS-Scribe John Robb), Drunk in Public (the Levellers acoustic show), Goatboy, Fish Bros, Methodaire and The Mutts.
Headlining the Main Stage on Sunday night will be the Levellers. The ultimate festival band, who have survived and defied their critics over the years, will close the festival in their own inimitable style. After 15 years the Levellers are still regularly playing to sell out audiences worldwide. Why? We don’t know.
Joining them on the Main Stage on Sunday will be dub/reggae festival stalwarts Dreadzone and breakbeat pioneers Hybrid. They will be joined on the Main Stage by ska band The Selecter, fronted by the charismatic Pauline Black, and The Jeevas (featuring ex Kuala Shaker frontman Crispian), Little Johnny England, Bluefoot Project and Bulletproof Electric Revue.
Headlining the BIG TOP on Sunday will be New Model Army frontman Justin Sullivan, who has just released his intense and orchestral solo album ‘Navigating By The Stars’. He will be joined by acclaimed singer/songwriter Nick Harper. Other bands in the BIG TOP on Sunday include Grand Drive, Clearlake, Nigel Mazlin-Jones, Madnomad, 3 Daft Monkeys, Crowzone, Kangarucci and Imperial Leisure.
Check the festival website beautifuldays.org for full details and updates.
