Cumbria’s biggest, brightest and best music and arts festival, Solfest takes place on August bank holiday, 24-26 August in north Cumbria.
As in previous years Solfest has endeavoured to compile a richly varied and superb line-up that includes both the contemporary and the classic of the music world and runs that gamut from rock to roots and folk to dance.
With seven stages running an incredible gamut of musical styles at Solfest you’re always spoilt for choice, in the best possible way.
2012 promises to deliver the best festival experience in Solfest’s nine-year history. Whatever your particular musical taste Solfest 2012 has something guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Leading the way is the truly legendary Adam Ant & The Good, The Mad And The Lovely Posse. Originally one of the cult icons of UK punk rock, Adam And The Ants built a fiercely loyal following in the late 70s before bursting into the mainstream with the tribal pop of ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ in the early 80s.
Last year’s national tour saw Adam & The Good, The Mad And The Lovely Posse delight and entertain at sell-out shows throughout the UK with Adam displaying all the craft, showmanship and charisma that had originally built his reputation.
KT Tunstall will also grace the Solfest 2012 main stage, bringing with her a distinctive and unique approach to contemporary singer-songwriting delivered in a stripped backed solo version with effects pedals multi-tracking her vocal.
Also appearing on the mainstage are Celtic rock behemoths The Waterboys, led by the inimitable Mike Scott. Since forming in 1983 The Waterboys have continued to steadfastly plough their own musical furrow, from their ‘Big Music’ of the 80s through their folky period on the hugely successful Fisherman’s Blues and Room To Roam albums to today’s more rock’n’roll driven sound
Post-punk legends Big Country will also appear. Emerging from Scotland in the early 80s with one of the most distinctive rock sounds to have ever surfaced.
Approaching their 30th anniversary, the band performed at last year’s Isle of Wight festival, T In The Park and V Festivals.
The Bard of Barking, Billy Bragg will also grace the mainstage. Bragg has been a permanent fixture on the music scene since his debut release, Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy was released in 1983. He also remains one of the UK’s most outspoken political songwriters with racism, sexism, corruption and most recently, the banks, all falling victim to his spiky lyrical barbs.
After twenty years, ten studio albums, five greatest hits compilations, thirty-four chart singles, fifteen million record sales worldwide and performing in front of millions of fans, when time was called on The Beautiful South in 2008, not everyone was ready to leave the party. Dave Hemingway and Ali Wheeler, lead singers with the band – along with departed songwriter Paul Heaton – were having too much fun to get out the pipe and slippers, and so The South was formed.
Seth Lakeman is a contemporary folk tour de force. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer who as well as being nominated for a Mercury Prize for his second album Kitty Jay in 2004 has toured with The Levellers, Jethro Tull and Jools Holland. Lakeman has continued to enjoy chart success for each consecutive album including his most recent Tales From The Barrel House.
The Bootleg Beatles are widely regarded as the best and most authentic Beatles tribute act in the UK. Since their formation in 1980 they have performed an incredible 4000+ live shows, presenting the entire musical time span of the original Beatles’ career. Summer 2012 marks the fifty-fifth anniversary of the day when John Lennon met Paul McCartney and the world of music changed forever.
Also appearing on the main stage are UK world music and dance fusion pioneers Transglobal Underground, in demand retro-rockers Saint Jude, Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt, psych four-piece Strangefruit, America folk and bluegrass act Larkin Poe, Duke Spirit – the incendiary UK rock act led by the distinctive voice of Liela Moss, Bristol blues rockers Yes Sir Boss, folk rockers Tarras and Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo – the UK-based Australian singer-songwriter and her in-demand band.
As ever we also have our absolutely banging dance tent, and more eclectic Dogs In Space stage where the best artistes and DJ’s feature including German legend Timo Maas, Kings of remix Elite Force, psych-trance pioneers Eat Static, ambient dance masters System 7, soul/trip-hop act Belleruche, ambient/psych originals Astralasia and many many more.
Others appearing throughout the weekend on various stages include The Members, Roddy Woomble, Aberfeldy, Louis Barrabas & The Bedlam Six, The Bgahdaddies, Hut People, This Is The Kit, Kava Kava, Coaltraan, Resonators, Pikey Beatz, Random Hand, Surfin’ Turnips and of course many more.
2012 Ticket Prices
Adult tickets: Standard (17+) £95
Young People Tickets (12-16) £65
Child Tickets Standard (6-11) £25
Babies and Toddlers (0-5) £0 – you still need a ticket though.
Thursday camping £10 – per vehicle
Adam Ant & The Good The Mad And The Lovely Posse, The Waterboys, KT Tunstall, Big Country, The South, Billy Bragg, Seth Lakeman, The Bootleg Beatles, Transglobal Underground, Roddy Woomble, Eat Static, Timo Maas, Eliteforce, Aberfeldy, Larkin Poe, The Duke Spirit, Saint Jude, Nina Nesbitt, Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, Baghdaddies, System 7, Pikey Beatz, Mirrorsystem, Belleruche, The Talks, Yes Sir Boss, Random Hand, The Singing Kettle and many many more
