Bearded Theory will reverberate with the sounds of classic hits including ‘Our House’, 'Baggy Trousers’ and ‘One Step Beyond’, as we are delighted to announce that North London’s finest nutty boys, Madness will headline the main stage on Sunday night.
Madnesss are one of the UK's best loved bands, achieving more than twenty chart hit singles, many of them instantly recognisable classics. Performing at both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert and London Olympic Games closing ceremony in 2012, Madness have ascended into true ’national treasure’ status, and Bearded Theory are delighted to be welcoming them to Catton Hall in Derbyshire, hot off the back of a major arena tour this winter.
Steve Blount, Bearded Theory organiser says, “We are chuffed to bits to have finally secured the booking of Madness, a band we have been trying to confirm for the past couple of years. Having seen the band twice this year, including their epic performance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, I knew we had to bag them to close out our tenth anniversary celebrations”.
Bearded Theory are also proud to announce a number of additional main stage bookings. Alabama 3 will be returning with more of their chaotic, techno-fuelled southern (London) blues. 6Music DJ extraordinaire Don Letts will bring his legendary bulging record bag of classic tunes and Skippinish will showcase their bagpipe-infused traditional Scottish folk music. Former Dum Dum’s frontman Josh Doyle, Manchester Regge legends Nucleus Roots, and Sheffield-based ‘explosive dub’ act Smiling Ivy have also all been added to the bill.
As previously announced, seminal British rock act Skunk Anansie, and punk duo Slaves will headline the Pallet (Main) stage, on Friday.
Skunk Anansie, fronted by the legendary Skin, will be the first female fronted band to headline Bearded Theory`s Spring Gathering. Talking ahead of their appearance the band said “Stoked to be headlining Friday at Bearded Theory. This festival is crazy good and we are looking forward to smashing it”.
Radio 1 favourites Slaves have just secured their second top 10 album with “Take Control” going to number 6 in October. Their debut album ‘Are You Satisfied’ charted at Number 8 last year, and we are delighted to have finally bagged them after a few years of trying.
Skunk Anansie and Slaves are joined on the Pallet (main) Stage by alternative rock/punk band The Alarm, Bearded Theory legends New Model Army, Ska legends The Selecter, seminal hip-hop act Sugar Hill Gang & Furious Five, Punk stalwarts Goldblade, and festival favorites Ferocious Dog, alongside Kassasin Street, Flight Brigade, The Mocking Jays Jaya the Cat, and many more.
Friday night on the beautiful Woodland Stage will be headlined by multi-million selling Britpop survivors, Cast. Northern Irish singer songwriter Foy Vance tops the bill on Saturday. Sunday will be closed by Sheffield’s finest (and good friends of the festival) Reverend & The Makers, who specifically requested to make a Woodland Stage appearance.
Jon from Reverend & the Makers says, "If festivals were judged on vibe alone then Bearded Theory is the best in the world and we cannot wait to close the 10th anniversary"
Joining these amazing headliners on the Woodland are heavy rockers Tess Of The Circle, dub punk band Smiley & The Underclass, folk act Roving Crows, Bhangra rockers Kissmet, Ska punkers Defekters, modern folk band MAIA, cow punk legends Pronghorn (celebrating their 25th year anniversary). American pop rockers Wheatus also make a welcome return to BT.
As a massive thank you to all our loyal festivalgoers who have supported Bearded Theory on its journey this far, Thursday’s “bonus” Pallet stage line-up will feature virtually the entire 2008 Saturday Main Stage bill! As such we welcome back Bearded favourites Dreadzone (LIVE), 3 Daft Monkeys, Tarantism, True Deceivers, Hobo Jones & The Junkyards Dogs and more to help celebrate our 10th anniversary year.
Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering returns after an absolutely incredible, sold out event in 2016, which received universally positive reviews; Louder Than War boldly stated that “Bearded Theory is by a distance the best medium sized festival in the country”.
The press accolades have also been echoed by the music industry, and Bearded Theory was awarded Best Family Festival at the 2016 UK Festival Awards, and shortlisted in three further categories.
Published on 19 December 2016 by Ben Robinson
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