WATCHETLIVE C.I.C, the organisers of WATCHET LIVE FESTIVAL are proud to announce three iconic British acts for 2018; Melanie C, Cast and Hazel O’Connor!
Melanie Jayne Chisholm, aka Melanie C is one of the most successful British recording artists of all time. As? ?a? ?solo? ?artist,? ?Melanie? ?has? ?released? ?seven? ?solo? ?albums,? notching up over? ?10? ?million? ?album sales worldwide,? ?alongside two? ?UK Number? ?1? ?singles? ?and? ?six? ?top? ?10?‘s. Her debut album Northern Star, released in 1999, sold 4 million copies worldwide and went triple platinum in the UK.
Taking into account her work with the Spice Girls (who’s first single, "Wannabe" reached number 1 in 37 countries), Melanie C has sold more than 105 million records, co-written 11 UK Number 1s (more than any other female artist in chart history), and remains the only female performer to top the UK charts as a solo artist and as part of a duo, quartet and quintet.
Cast are undeniably deserving of the moniker ‘Britpop Legends’. Led by former La’s Bassist John Power, guitarist Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson and drummer Keith O’Neill are joined by former La's member Jay Lewis on bass.
Cast’s debut album All Change is widely regarded as one of the classic Britpop albums. Released in October 1995, the album shot to No 7 in the UK charts, reaching double platinum. It went on to become the fastest selling debut album in the history of Polydor, outselling The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who and The Jam. A further two singles taken from the album; "Sandstorm" and "Walkaway" both went Top 10. Cast’s second album Mother Nature Calls was released April 1997. Peaking at No. 3, it went platinum and stayed in the Top 40 for over 6 months. The album spawned three top ten hits in "Free Me", "Guiding Star" and "Live the Dream. Since reforming in 2010, the band have released two studio albums and toured extensively in the UK and overseas.
Also announced is renowned singer-songwriter and actress Hazel O’Connor, who will headline the Udder stage on Saturday. With a career spanning more than 30 years, She became famous in the early 1980s with hit singles "Eighth Day", "D-Days" and "Will You", as well as starring in the film Breaking Glass. Since then she’s gone on to record more than 20 studio albums and appeared regularly on stage and screen, Her theatre work includes One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, Nightshoot at the Tricycle Theatre, and London, Swing Out Sister, (her own production) at the Riverside Studio, London.
Cast, Melanie C and Hazel O’Connor will join previously announced acts Aswad, Dub Pistols, Ferocious Dog, From The Jam, Kioko Mesh, Faerground Accidents and RSVP at Watchet Festival 2018.
Many more acts, including all three headliners, are still yet to be announced!
After fifteen albums and two decades on the music scene, Aswad remains one of Britain's best-loved reggae bands. The duo of Drummie Zeb and Tony Gadd are renowned among reggae fans for their adventurous fusion of musical styles such as dancehall, funk, hip-hop and dub.
In 1988, Aswad earned international acclaim with their reggae version of "Don't Turn Around," which sailed to No. 1 in the U.K. Charts. Their 1994 album Rise & Shine saw the band's first Grammy nomination for ‘Reggae Album of the Year’, and also gave the band another No.1 hit with now famous summer reggae anthem ‘Shine.’
The Dub Pistols return to Watchet by popular demand, after their triumphant headline performance back in 2014. Led by indefatigable south-Londoner Barry Ashworth, they have lived every rock ’n’ roll cliché more vividly, knowingly and hilariously than almost any other British band. Yet having worked with heroes like The Specials, Madness and Gregory Isaacs they are busier than ever, having reinvented themselves as the ultimate Festival band.
Watchet Festival are also very proud to have booked From The Jam, as the organisers have received more requests for them than any other band! Fronted by the legendary Bruce Foxton, they will bring their unique punk / mod sound to the main stage on Friday, performing hits such as That’s Entertainment, Going Underground and Town Called Malice
Watchet LIVE Festival is a not-for-profit family festival with amazing views of the West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages host more than 60 live acts, bringing a wide range of high-calibre musical acts not normally found performing in West Somerset, at a very affordable price.
Watchet 2018 is set to continue the festival’s tradition of completely selling out in advance. Those wishing to camp on site are particularly encouraged to buy their tickets as soon as possible. Camping is now eighty percent sold, with over half of all weekend non-camping tickets also sold.
Alongside a wide variety of high quality food stalls, the extensive in-house Cider and Real Ale Bar prices are always kept as low as possible, providing one of the best-value refreshments offerings to be found at any event in the UK.
Published on 27 January 2018 by Ben Robinson
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