Taking place on the weekend of 17-19 August, the one-off festival will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of iconic Clash frontman Joe Strummer and will be held at a beautiful location in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset.
Founder of Glastonbury Festival, Michael Eavis said: “I got to know Joe in the last years of his life, and his support in our unpopular campaign to control the numbers here in 2002 was invaluable to me. It’s good to know that the spirit of Strummerville will still be alive in our part of the world, especially in our year off.”Strummer of Love festival is excited to announce the final acts for this year’s outstanding event. Joining the roster of globally renowned talent will be indie sensation King Charles, alternative rockers The Farm and celebrated folk-punk group The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
The festival is also revealing the complete line-up for the Strummerville Campfire stage, which takes its inspiration from the legendary campfire communities that Joe Strummer created at various festivals across the UK.
The philosophy of the campfire became emblematic for Strummer. He saw it as an art form in itself and his annual Glastonbury campfires were legendary places where people could come to drink, talk and laugh with like-minded individuals surrounded by great music. Strummerville: The Joe Strummer New Music Foundation will be presenting exciting and emerging talent on this year’s intimate stage, once host to a magical set from King Charles at Glastonbury in 2009.
Hosting the Appleseed stage on Sunday 19th August will be Rootikal, London’s front-running roots reggae night. Bands confirmed include the Twinkle Brothers, Talisman and Joshua Moses. It’s not all about revival artists however, as they come bang up to date with a full Roots Manuva live show, to merge the dub, the hip hop and the bass.
For an unrivalled opportunity to learn about Joe Strummer, Strummer School will provide a chance to study the man’s unseen lyrics, setlists, early drafts, and assorted ephemera from his personal archive. Throughout his life Joe was a prolific writer, scribbler, note-taker, visual artist and ideas-man. He left behind thousands of written pages.
Central to the exhibition will be a typewriter campfire, emblematic of two of his abiding interests. There will also be listening and viewing posts,
featuring unique and original images and music from the 101’ers, as well as guest lecturers. Mick Jones’ Rock’n’Roll Public Library will be twinned with the Strummer School in an adjacent tent.
Joe’s daughter Jazz Domino Holly will also be hosting an inclusive and unique crafts tent where guests at the festival can take part in all manner of creative activities including knitting, sewing and quilting. “Queen of Crafts” Jazz will be on hand to offer expert advice to the gathered enthusiasts.
In honour of Strummer’s worldviews, proceeds from the festival will benefit the work of the charity Strummerville: The Joe Strummer New Music Foundation, which was set up in the singer’s memory by his friends and family following his untimely death.
The festival will accommodate 5,000 visitors and endeavour to re-connect with the original concept of a festival - a joyous celebration in the fields. With spontaneous performances and exclusive spectaculars, Strummer Of Love will be one of the most distinctive, enchanting and inclusive experiences in the UK festival itinerary.
The wealth of live music on offer will be complemented by stalls selling ethically sourced fair trade food and outlets highlighting a range of arts, crafts, Strummer memorabilia, alternative therapies, healing and community activism.
Since its 2003 inception, Strummerville has stayed true to Joe’s reputation as a rallying point and motivational icon by driving a host of projects that provide invaluable opportunities for musical creativity to thrive.
Strummerville's work comes in many forms, from helping bands to record and release music to providing rehearsal spaces for aspiring artists. Strummerville studios can be found at the roundhouse and under the Westway in London, in Belfast and in Bogotá. The main aim of the charity is to give opportunities to people through music who wouldn’t usually have access to such opportunities.
Faithful to the spirit of Strummer’s diverse life and career - as hippy era festivalgoer, folk troubadour, family man, globally feted punk icon and world music explorer - it will be an occasion to savour, leaving behind a plan of action after the partying is over.
Published on 31 May 2012 by Wayne Feltham
