Long-running Oxfordshire music festival reveals full line-up.
Headliners include KT Tunstall, Newton Faulkner, Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden.
KT Tunstall, Newton Faulkner, Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden, are set to headline the 53rd Towersey Festival (25-28 August 2017, Thame, Oxfordshire).
They’re joined by Show Of Hands, Lindisfarne, The Blockheads and Foy Vance, amongst others.
Scotland-born and Los Angeles-based, KT Tunstall came to prominence with her 2004 debut Eye To The Telescope, which earned her BRIT and Ivor Novello awards, in additional to Grammy and Mercury Prize nominations.
Her recent album, 2016’s KIN, exemplifies the very best of guitar pop. The diverse collection includes a duet with KT fan James Bay, the raucous rebellion of It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am, the call to arms of Hard Girls, and lilting album closer Love Is An Ocean.
Newton Faulkner boasts two number one albums. His debut, Hand Built By Robots, knocked Amy Winehouse off the top spot in 2007, and he returned to the top again in 2012 with Write In Your Skin. His recent fifth album, Human Love, saw the once dreadlocked troubadour expanding his classic singer-songwriter influences with sounds from other cultures.
Eliza Carthy‘s The Wayward Band line-up features some of the UK’s very best acoustic and roots players, including musicians associated with the mighty Bellowhead, Mawkin, Blowzabella, Emily Portman Trio, and more. Their just-out debut album, Big Machine, is a big album from a big band, earning Eliza her highest chart placing!
Jon Boden is perhaps most recognisable as the lead singer (and one of the principal arrangers) of the multi-award winning Bellowhead, one of the most exciting live acts of recent years. The band played their last ever music festival show at Towersey in 2015 before retiring last year, allowing Jon to continue with his lauded and diverse solo career.
With founder member Rod Clements still at the helm, 1970’s folk rock pioneers Lindisfarne’s songbook features such tracks as Meet Me On The Corner, Run For Home, Lady Eleanor and Fog On The Tyne, while The Blockheads’ many hits include Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3, What A Waste, and Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.
Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance has worked with such artists as Sheryl Crow and Ed Sheeran (co-writing several songs on Ed’s X album). Recorded in Nashville, Foy’s latest collection, The Wild Swan, was released via Sheeran’s Gingerbread Man Records, and lists Elton John as Executive Producer.
Other Towersey 2017 highlights include Gary Stewart’s stunning recreation of Paul Simon’s seminal Graceland album, and appearances from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017 nominees Megson (Best Duo) and Jim Causley (Singer Of The Year), plus a guaranteed slot for the winner of the Young Folk Award category.
Towersey Festival Director Joe Heap said: “We have another great mix of artists this year, including BBC Radio 2 favourite KT Tunstall, as well as such Towersey stalwarts as Jon Boden, Eliza Carthy and Show Of Hands, who have visited the festival many times over the years.
“We’re very excited by our full line-up,” continued Joe, adding that there’s been a real buzz around the festival this year. “Off the back of a successful 2016, we’ve already sold out of both our Tier One and Tier Two tickets, so we know our audience is really looking forward to Towersey 2017 as much as we are.”
Tickets for Towersey Festival, which runs from 25-28 August 2017 at Thame Showground in Oxfordshire, are available now with Adult Day Tickets from £30, Youth £21, Child £14, under 5 free. Tickets for the full festival are £126-£57 (Tier 3). For further information, and to book tickets, see: www.towerseyfestival.com
LISTINGS
Friday 25 to Monday 28 August 2017
Towersey Festival
The Thame Showground, Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3JL
Tickets
Weekend Tickets (4 days)
Tier 1 & Tier 2: [SOLD OUT]
Tier 3: Adult £126; Conc £110; Youth £88; Child £57; under 5 free
Tier 4: Adult £136; Conc £115; Youth £99; Child £57; under 5 free
Camping for five nights (Thu-Mon) £25 per Adult and Youth; Children free.
Day Tickets
Fri/ Sat/ Sun: Adult £40; Youth £28; Child £18; under 5 Free
Mon: Adult £30; Youth £21; Child £14; under 5 Free
Camping £10 per person, per night (on night of valid Day Ticket only)
No booking fees.
Instalment Plan available.
Twitter: @towerysefesti #Towersey2017
Facebook: TowerseyFestival
Instagram: towerseyfestival2017
Box Office: 01629 827016
NB: Concession = students, Job Seekers and those 60+. Proof of status must be shown on ticket collection. Youth = 12-17 yrs inclusive. Child = 5 -11 yrs inclusive. Under 5 = FREE. Car Parking free (space permitting). Residents’ Tickets – available from 16/02/17. For Thame Residents only. £95 adult wknd; £63 youth; £42 child; u5s free.
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST 2017
KT Tunstall
Jon Boden
Mawkin
Andy Cutting
The Eskies
Megson
SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 2017
Newton Faulkner
Eliza Carthy and The Wayward Band
The Blockheads
Rob Deering
Rob Heron and The Tea Pad Orchestra
SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 2017
Show Of Hands
Lindisfarne
Foy Vance
Gary Stewart presents Graceland
Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
Gilmore Roberts
MONDAY 28 AUGUST 2017
The Demon Barbers XL
Coope Boyes and Simpson
Roy Bailey
Jim Causley Trio
Merry Hell
DAILY
All About Children (activities for ages 5-11 year olds)
Workshops
Youth programme (12-18yrs)
Sessions
Ceilidh & Dance
The Folk Club
Street Theatre
Storytelling and Spoken Word
Film Screenings
Real Ale Bar
Street Food
Market Stalls
For full-line up of all acts, see festival website: www.towerseyfestival.com
ABOUT TOWERSEY FESTIVAL
Towersey Festival appeals to a wide audience and is popular with all generations; in many cases, three generations of a family will be in attendance.
Established in 1965, it’s one of the UK’s longest-running independent music festivals.
In 2016, Towersey Festival celebrated its 52nd anniversary with packed appearances from Billy Bragg, The Wonder Stuff, Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain, Midge Ure, and Kate Rusby.
Towersey Festival has a first-class reputation as a destination for camping and caravanning.
While music forms the core of the festival, the event also encompasses workshops, dance, film, spoken word, and a Real Ale Festival.
- For more information about Towersey Festival 2017, including image and interview requests, please contact us:
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