Wickerman Fires Up as Music Icons Squeeze

 Lulu and John Cooper Clarke Join the Bill

Steve Ignorant, Errors, Withered Hand, The Phantom Band, Youth Man, Paws and Holy Mountain Amongst Acts Announced

Friday 24^th & Saturday 25^th July 2015 / www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

Wickerman, Scotland’s sizzling summer music festival, is turning up the heat with the addition of three of music’s most iconic names to its 2015 line-up. The hugely popular pop-rock band Squeeze, Scottish superstar Lulu and seminal punk performance poet John Cooper Clarke will be taking centre stage alongside recently announced The Waterboys, Tom Odell and Example & DJ Wire.

On Friday, Squeeze will co-headline the main Summerisle Stage in what is set to be a truly unforgettable performance. Defined by the songwriting partnership of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbook, once dubbed the ‘the new Lennon and McCartney’, the influential group exploded on to the late 70s music scene with their album ‘Cool for Cats’. With a host of chart topping hits under their belt, including ‘Up the Junction’, ‘Labelled with Love’ and ‘Tempted’, the band’s trademark witty lyricism and distinctive sound is sure to fire up festival fans.

On Saturday, Scottish singing legend Lulu will storm the main stage to entertain fans and celebrate an incredible 50 years in the music business. In what will surely be a show stopping performance, fans can look forward to a rousing tour of her glittering back catalogue, from Bond theme tunes to crowd-pleaser ‘Shout’ to more recent hits. Her Wickerman appearance will cap a momentous year for the star, who is embarking on her first UK solo tour in a decade and releasing a new self-penned album.

On Saturday, John Cooper Clarke will be headlining Wickerman’s famous Scooter Tent, which will feature a mix of explosive ska and punk acts alongside some fresh new sounds. ‘The Bard of Salford’ became the leading voice of punk and youth culture in the 70s and has toured with Sex Pistols, The Clash, Buzzcocks, The Fall and Elvis Costello amongst others. His biting, satirical verse delivered in his signature rapid-fire performance is set to transfix the crowds. Joining him will be Glasgow’s synth rock band Errors, whose surreal sound and mesmerising live performances have received rave reviews from the UK music press. The band’s forth studio album ‘Lease of Life’ will be released this month.

Punk icon Steve Ignorant will also be getting the Scooter Tent bouncing this year with what promises to be an arresting set. Best known as the frontman and co-founder of anarcho-punk band Crass, Wicker fans can expect an unforgettable live performance. Withered Hand, AKA Scottish indie folk-rock troubadour Dan Wilson and his full band, Brummie punk trio Youth Man, Glaswegian indie rockers The Phantom Band, Scottish neo scuzz act Paws and psychedelic rockers Holy Mountain will also join this year’s Scooter Tent bill.

The Wickerman Festival’s Grainne Braithwaite, commented: “We are so excited to have Squeeze, Lulu and John Cooper Clarke joining this year’s line-up. All three acts are icons in their different musical genres, so to bring them all together alongside The Waterboys and Tom Odell, will make for an unforgettable celebration of British talent, past and present.

 ‘The Wickerman team is gearing up to make this year’s Festival one to really remember, so fans can expect a whole host of exciting Wicker news over the coming months.’