The line-up for the country’s biggest festival for unsigned and emerging musical talent was announced in style today (Friday, May 12) with a special performance on a rooftop in Hull.
The politically charged punk noisemakers and "thick-skinned DIY" band LIFE, fresh from playing SXSW and with a new album about to drop, were also announced as the headliner for Humber Street Sesh, which takes place on August 5 when crowds of 30,000 are expected to descend on Hull Marina.
Three artists included in the 200-strong line-up gave a taste of what can be expected with performances on top of Humber Street Gallery this afternoon.
The poetic singer-songwriter Jack Conman, hard hitting duo Chambers and indie quartet Fronteers braved the dizzy heights of Humber Street Gallery’s rooftop and performed overlooking streets which will be filled with thousands of festivalgoers this summer.
Humber Street Sesh is in its sixth year after growing from a weekly music night in Hull to one of the country’s most unique and exciting festivals.
Such is its growing reputation, Humber Street Sesh was shortlisted in the Best Medium Sized Festival and the Best Metropolitan Festival categories at the high-profile UK Festival Awards last year.
The man responsible for this spectacular evolution is Sesh founder Mak Page.
Mak said: “What’s been achieved off the back of a long-standing original live music night is quite incredible.
“In the last five years, we’ve captivated the heart and soul of the city, provided a powerful platform for the best emerging bands and acts from the region and helped create a sense of cultural wellbeing in Hull.
“This year, in line with Hull 2017, we have invited some special friends to join us as we showcase the brilliance of our City of Culture. This is our year in the spotlight, and Humber Street Sesh will truly shine this August.”
In the past the festival has given a platform for local bands and artists, but this year it is branching out and giving bands from further afield - including York, Leeds, Edinburgh and Northern Ireland – the opportunity to play in front of crowds of thousands.
Headlining the festival is Hull punk band LIFE who recently performed at SXSW in America and supported Slaves on their European tour.
LIFE frontman Mez Green was at the launch of Humber Street Sesh today, a festival close to his heart.
He said: “It’s an honour to headline what we consider the most exciting and vital Hull event.
“The Sesh isn’t just a celebration of music but it’s a celebration of the diverse and powerful community we have in our city of culture! We can’t wait.”
LIFE’s eagerly awaited debut album Popular Music is released on May 26.
The Hull punk band will also be appearing at Radio One’s Big Weekend at the end of the month along with one of today’s rooftop performers, Jack Conman.
This year’s 200 bands will perform on 20 stages spread out on Hull Marina.
This year’s line-up includes artists from all over the UK including Kagoule (Nottingham), Post War Glamour Girls (Leeds), Indigo Velvet (Edinburgh), Black Waters (Surry), Fatherson (Glasgow), Strange Bones (Blackpool), Polo (York) and Kid Trench (Newry, Northern Ireland).
Also performing are King No-One, The Hubbards, Bud Sugar, Chiedu Oraka, La Bete Blooms, Vulgarians, Counting Coins, Endoflevelbaddie, Fonda 500, Black Delta Movement and DJ James Orvis who recently performed at John Grant’s North Atlantic Flux, and Revenu who appeared as part of The Basil Kirchin Story.
With music and community at the heart of the festival, they’ll also be an engaging arts programme featuring street art, graffiti, photo exhibitions and installations.
There will also be a designated family area with a youth stage, skate park, kids scrapstore and face painting with under-12s invited along for free.
Also on site among celebrated street food stalls and markets, there will be a funfair, silent disco and a 50’s & 60’s funk & soul vinyl experience courtesy of Original Brew.
Advanced tickets can be purchased until August 4 for £10.
To view the full line-up or buy tickets for this year’s Humber Street Sesh visit www.humberstreetsesh.co.uk/
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