Multi-award winning Festival No.6 (7-10 September) has today announced the headliners for this year’s festival – The Flaming Lips, Mogwai and Bloc Party.
Topping the bill is a band that needs no introduction – The Flaming Lips. Following critical acclaim for their 14th studio album - Oczy Mlody - the psychedelic adventurers will be treating the No6 audience to a plethora of quirky hits from their incredible 30 year career and an unparalleled live show. Will Wayne’s new muse and collaborator Miley Cyrus be accompanying? You’ll have to wait until September…
Also headlining with a UK festival exclusive is Mogwai. The Scottish post-rockers have a reputation for live performances that combine stunning multi-layered sonic tapestries with a mind-bending wall of white noise that are both breath-taking and beautiful. Currently in the studio recording their next album it will be a chance to hear brand new material.
The final headline act is Platinum-selling indie-rockers Bloc Party and another UK festival exclusive. Five albums in Bloc Party’s hybrid indie/alt-dance sound is as unique as it is infectious and their dynamic live set is sure to be a highlight of this year’s festival.
Also gracing the main stage is a stunning unique collaboration between the globally renowned Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the world famous Bootleg Beatles who have created a joyous celebration for the 50th anniversary of what must be the most ground-breaking and influential album of all time – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - a festival exclusive that promises to be a defining moment of No.6’s special sixth birthday celebrations.
Support comes from nu jazz/electronica outfit The Cinematic Orchestra, dreamy indie rockers Wild Beasts, feted neo-soul singer songwriter and brand new Brit Award winner Rag’n’Bone Man, R&B/soul sensation Laura Mvula award-winning performance poet Kate Tempest, recently reformed alt-rockers Arab Strap, indie three piece The Cribs, nerd rock duo Public Service Broadcasting, folk troubadour James Vincent McMorrow and a crazy covers smash up with Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon.
Australian acid rock dance hybrid Jagwar Ma also feature on the impressive and eclectic bill as does former Beta Band mainstay Steve Mason, psych-shoegazers Toy, Palace, Honeyblood, Cabbage, Vaults, Tash Sultana, Tom Grennan, Superfood, Island, Formation, Pins, The Rhythm Method, Skott, Xamvolo, Ten Tonnes, Aine Cahill, The Lightening Year, Slang, Klangstof, Daniel O Sullivan, Gulp, The Pheromoans, Tom House Smith and Yucatan.
Rightfully renowned for its electronic bill, No.6 has also unveiled the first of its DJ/electronic line-up. Leading the bill is drum and bass original and Metalheadz label boss Goldie performing his new album The Journey Man. Also joining are nu-disco heroes Hercules and Love Affair, Joy Orbison, Benji B, Joe Goddard Live, Mr Scruff, Mary Anne Hobbs, Horse Meat Disco, Justin Robertson, Running Back Super Ball: Henrik Schwarz (Live), Gerd Janson and Fort Romeau, David Holmes, Steve Davis & Kavus Torabi, Kevin Rowland (Dexys DJ Set), Down to the Sea and Back, Heavenly Jukebox and Purple Stardust - the ultimate Prince and Bowie disco.
The arts and culture programme includes reigning Welsh national champions and No.6 favourites The Brythoniaid Welsh Male Voice Choir, who will be performing all the cover versions they have done for No.6 over the years, and a couple of new surprises. Director Kevin Allen will talk about the filming of Tin Town, the hugely anticipated sequel to the seminal Welsh film Twin Town. The brilliant Maxine Peake will be curating her own stage for a day, Peaky’s Parlour, with a mixture of special guests and screenings. The legendary snooker player turned DJ Steve Davis will be in conversation with Kavis Torabi and Goldie, Kevin Rowland (Dexys Midnight Runners), Charlotte Church, Diane Morgan (Philomena Cunk) and Mary Anne Hobbs will also be in conversation. Writers appearing include Coco Khan and Vera Chok, two of the authors from The Good Immigrant, voted Britain’s favourite book of 2016, and Ian Martin (The Thick of It) talking about his new book Epic Space.
There will be a special Tony Wilson tribute, to mark 10 years since the death of the Factory Records supremo, Delia Derbyshire Day will mark the 80th anniversary of the electronic pioneer and Ros Wynne Jones will talk about retracing George Orwell’s Road to Wigan Pier, 80 years on.
The brilliant poetry line-up includes Hollie McNish, Luke Wright, Salena Godden, Tongue Fu, Rob Auton, Harry Baker and Laurie Bolger. The No.6 Academy returns, in partnership with Guardian Masterclasses, providing free taster sessions of their popular classes, plus workshops on everything from festival photography to how to publish your first book, and Tim Peaks Diner will be providing everything from Welsh Language Classes to Northern Soul Dance Classes with live Northern Soul brass. There will be further talks from Faber Social, Salon No.6, Heavenly Films and Unbound.
Carnival No.6 will return, as will the hugely popular nightly and lantern and torch-lit processions. The whole village will come alive with pop-up theatre and performers with some special themed treats planned for the sixth birthday.
Festival founder Gareth Cooper said: “It’s a very special year for us as we’re celebrating our sixth birthday and we’re marking the occasion by really going back to our roots. It has to be our most diverse bill to date with amazing artists from across the globe packing every stage, from the woods to the main stage – it’s going to be incredible.
“There’s still more to be revealed in the coming weeks, but I’m absolutely convinced 2017 is going to be the best Festival No.6 yet.”
Festival No.6 is an intimate, bespoke banquet of music, arts and culture, taking place over the weekend of the 7-10 September in the magical village of Portmeirion, Wales, home of the cult TV series The Prisoner. With many more music acts a huge arts and cultural line-up, new venues and Michelin starred-chefs yet to be revealed the fifth Festival No.6 is certain to be the most impressive to date.
Acts will perform across the entire site, by the whimsical Italianate architecture of the village, the historic town hall, piazza, Bristol Colonnade, the picturesque Estuary stage, the atmospheric woods and the promenade along the River Dwyryd.
Constructed between 1925 and 1975 by maverick architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion is a wonderfully bizarre and elaborate interpretation of a Mediterranean villa, nestled in the stunning mountains and forests of North Wales overlooking the expansive estuarial waters of the Irish Sea.
Published on 23 February 2017 by Ben Robinson
