Indie legends Echo and The Bunnymen have been unveiled as co-headliners of this summer’s Willowman Festival.
Frontman Ian McCullough and his band will join Peter Hook and The Light who will perform the best of Joy Division and New Order at the four-day festival in North Yorkshire which takes place from June 18 to 21.
Echo and the Bunnymen are busier than ever after releasing new album Meteorites last year and completing tours of North American, South America and the UK. As well as tracks from their celebrated new album, music fans at Willowman Festival can expect to hear a set packed full of classic tracks from early albums Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here, Porcupine and the seminal Ocean Rain.
Festival goers can also expect to hear Joy Division classics such as She’s Lost Control, Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart, alongside the best of New Order including Ceremony, True Faith and Blue Monday from Peter Hook and The Light.
Known by his nickname Hooky, his iconic and signature bass lines are at the heart of every Joy Division and New Order classic track. As well as featuring his son Jack Bates, the band also includes Andy Poole, Paul Kehoe and David Potts, who all played in Hooky’s previous band Monaco.
Now in its sixth year, The Willowman Festival has gained a national reputation for offering an eclectic line up of both new and established artists, while keeping ticket prices rock bottom.
Next summer’s four day family friendly festival will once again take place at the Hillside Rural Activities Park in Knayton, near Thirsk, over the Solstice weekend between June 18 and 21.
Festival director Steve Williams said: “Echo and The Bunnymen had a fantastic 2014 and the band look to carry on gigging hard in 2015. After last year’s tours the band are super-tight and played some blinding sets which Willowman fans can look forward too in June.
“They will be joined by Hooky’s band which started off as a small project and has grown into a major globe-trotting act. I can’t wait to hear that classic cannon of songs blast from the Willowman stage – it’s going to be amazing.”
Another well-known name released as part of the line-up is new wave songstress Hazel O’Connor, who is gaining rave reviews for her latest live shows, including a successful appearance at Glastonbury Festival last year. Hazel had huge hits in the 1980s with Will You, Eighth Day and D-Days and also appeared on the big screen in the critically acclaimed rock movie Breaking Glass.
Festival circuit favourites Dreadzone have also just been announced for value for money festival which is still selling early bird tickets for only £65.
Also playing the festival are Jeff Green Project, Ferocious Dog, Neck, Astralasia, New Groove Formation, Charlotte Yanni Band, Louise Petit, Big Red and the Grinners and the fantastically named The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican.
Published on 26 January 2015 by Ben Robinson
