Headlining Beautiful Days 2016 on the Friday night are Leftfield - one of Britain’s most influential electronic dance acts.
Their debut Leftism, remains one of the defining statements of 90s dance music. Headlining on Saturday night we welcome back Manchester legends James who release their fourteenth new studio album ‘Girl at the End of the World’ this month. Sunday night headliners are festival founders Levellers who will close the weekend with a spectacular show including a firework finale. Joining them on the Main Stage bill are Simon Emmerson’s Afro Celt Sound System who release their first album in 10 years ‘The Source’ in April, plus Mercury Prize nominated folk-rock band The Coral, Charlie & Craig Reid aka The Proclaimers, plus Mariachi El Bronx - the mariachi side project of Los Angeles hardcore punk band The Bronx, dub/ska band Gentleman’s Dub Club and West Country rockers Reef. We also welcome very special guests, American Grammy nominated funk/soul band Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, plus the brilliant and exciting solo artist Ezra Furman, festival favourites Dreadzone, rock band Terrovision, punk legends The Damned and The Selecter led by their iconic frontwoman Pauline Black. The Main Stage bill also features Hollie Cook, Lanterns on the Lake, UK Feds, Flight Brigade and The Church.
Headlining on the festival's Big Top stage are singer-songwriter and activist Billy Bragg, Senegalese singer and guitarist Baaba Maal - one of Africa’s best known musicians with a career spanning over 25 years and Scottish folk big band Treacherous Orchestra. Joining them on the bill are West Country folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman, The Damned playing a second set, this time playing Damned, Damned, Damned in its entirety, plus Fotheringay featuring original members Jerry Donahue, Gerry Conway and Pat Donaldson plus special guests, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees The Unthanks, Canadian folk music group La Vent Du Nord and country rock act Ethan Johns & The Black Eyed Dogs. The Big Top will also play host to folk legend Martin Carthy, award-winning local duo Show of Hands, melodic, semi-acoustic band Wildflowers, critically acclaimed singer and songwriter Foy Vance, London based high energy folk trio Stick in the Wheel, Exeter singing duo Sound of the Sirens plus Mag Dog McRea and The Lounge Kittens.
The Little Big Top will play host to headliners Toddla T, DJ Hype and Dele Sosimi plus sets from Mungo’s Hi-Fi featuring Solo Banton, The Harry Shotta Show, Max Pashm Soundsystem, North Base, Too Many T’s, Mr Nice, Phantasy, Subgiant, Skata Tones, Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, Rapha Ghetti, AAA Badboy and Reeps One. The Little Big Top also hosts The Silent Disco for two nights and family rave Big Fish Little Fish on Friday afternoon.
The THEME FOR 2016 IS STARS……..sparkling cosmic related attire or simply star-shaped accessories. The focus of the day on the Sunday will be stars, with site art and other elements of the festival reflecting the theme.
The final acts and line-ups for the other three stages - The Theatre Tent, The Bimble Inn and The Band Stand - will be announced in the coming months.
Published on 04 March 2016 by Ben Robinson
