The Beat & Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra to take centre stage
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th July 2014 / www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
The Wickerman Festival has today, Wednesday 30th April, announced that seminal 2-Tone band The Beat and classic ska act Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra will be headlining its famous Scooter Tent this year.
The Beat, who are known the world over for their string of hit singles, will undoubtedly deliver a dynamic live show in the hugely popular punk & ska tent on Friday 25th July, while on Saturday 26th, Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra, which was formed by the legendary Madness saxophonist, will take to the stage to stir up the crowds. Joining them on the bill are Cockney Rejects, Sonic Boom Six, Anti-Pasti and The New Piccadillys amongst others.
Formed in 1978 as part of the West Midland ska revival scene, The Beat are one of the biggest bands of the 2-Tone movement. Their relentless energy and world class musicianship has garnered a loyal international following and resulted in hits that include ‘Mirror in the bathroom’, ‘Too nice to talk to you’ and ‘Hands off she’s mine’. Their arresting fusion of ska, pop, reggae and punk rock is set to ignite festival revellers.
Iconic British band, The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra will top the bill on Saturday night with what promises to be an unforgettable ska and reggae knees up. The band, complete with fellow Madness
bassist Mark “Bedders” Bedford and a line-up of influential collaborators, promise to deliver a timeless set of their favourite reggae and ska covers.
Joining them will be explosive punk rock band, Cockney Rejects , who formed in East London in the late seventies as an answer to the art school punk that dominated the scene up untill then. Known for their riotous version of ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ and ‘Oi, Oi, Oi’, the energetic four-piece returned to the live circuit in 2000 due to overwhelming demand.
Manchester five-piece Sonic Boom Six who describe themselves as a punk-rock, hip-hop, jump-up ska sound clash will also be storming the Scooter Tent stage this year. A true product of their city centre environment and an active fixture on the UK punk scene, their music combines social commentary with an eclectic mix of sounds. Their influences include Public Enemy, The Fugees, The Streets, The Specials and The Clash. Four-piece British punk band Anti-Pasti are set to deliver a raucous performance during the event. Founded in 1978, the band boasted number one hits in the UK indie charts in the 70s and 80s and their 1981 debut album ‘The Last Call’ is a certified classic from the second wave of punk.
Also getting the Scooter Tent bouncing will be alternative, ska band Imperial Leisure who have supported infamous acts like Roots Manuva, Less than Jake and Young Blood Brass Band with their high energy live performances. Glasgow’s four piece beat group The New Piccadillys will also join the bill and combine a 60s sound with a 70s punk rock sensibility. Twanging guitars and pounding drums provide the backing for their tight harmony beat versions of classics such as The Ramones’ ‘Judy is a Punk’and many other rock ‘n’ roll treasures. Eight-piece northern soul and motown troupe Berry Tweed and The Chasers will return to Wickerman this year to once again electrify the stage whilst London’s punk ukele outfit The Pukes are set to deliver a storming live set.
On Saturday, British punk band The Members will entertain the Wicker crowds with classic tracks such as their 1978 hit ‘The Sound of the Suburbs.’ Joining them will be Glasgow’s Clash tribute band Counterfeit Clash who are set to create their own brand of mesmerising mayhem on stage and 1970s punk rock group The Lurkers. Four-piece punk, ska, dance act Root System will be also be returning to the popular tent to get Scotland’s hottest Summer party going over the weekend whilst Edinburgh’s 10-piece collective, Victorian Trout Conspiracy, promise to get the Wicker crowds skanking.
Helen Chalmers, Wickerman’s Festival Coordinator, commented:
“Our legendary Scooter Tent is a key attraction for many of our festival goers, so we are delighted to announce that two truly iconic ska headliners will top the bill in 2014. This year’s line up offer a truly eclectic mix of timeless classics to exciting new fusions”
