Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters to headline the second day of The Bath Festival Finale Weekend
Almost 50 years after Led Zeppelin performed at Bath Blues Festival (1969) on Bath Recreation Ground, their former lead singer and lyricist and one of the greatest voices in rock and roll, Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters return to the city for the 70th anniversary finale weekend of The Bath Festival.
In the crowd watching Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and others that day in 1969 was Michael Eavis, who was then inspired to start the Glastonbury Festival a year later. Singer, songwriter and musician, Robert Plant CBE, returns to Bath with The Sensational Space Shifters as he takes his new album ‘Carry Fire’ around the world on numerous sold out dates. He heads up our Sunday programme on the Rec on 27 May, following Tears For Fears and Alison Moyet who perform on the Saturday evening.
Ian Stockley, Chief Executive of Bath Festivals said: “Hot on the heels of our exciting news about Tears For Fears and Alison Moyet, we’re thrilled to announce that Robert Plant will headline on the second day finale weekend, completing a great circle in rock history 50 years on. This important weekend will have something for all the family, rounding off the 17 days of next year’s festival with three outdoor stages and a number of hugely exciting acts across the two days, and it’s terrific that Robert will be there to perform for us.”
In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked Plant the greatest of all lead singers. Led Zeppelin released their eponymous debut album in 1969, the year they played Bath Blues, and went on to write ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘Stairway To Heaven’, recognised in numerous polls as the greatest song of all time. Plant embarked on a solo career from the 80s following the death of drummer John Bonham, and has received numerous Grammy Award nominations, collaborating with the likes of bluegrass star Alison Krauss. In 2009 Plant won the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize at the Q Awards, and in 2013 he contributed to a community buyout scheme to save Bath music venue, the Bell Inn.
The weekend finale promoter is the Orchard Media and Events Group, twice winner of the Regional Promoter of the Year in the UK Live Music Business Awards. Orchard already bring a number of artists to Bath, working with venues such as Komedia. Orchard’s director Pablo Janczur said: “Robert Plant has been selling out concerts for years so we’re excited to bring him back to Bath Rec after 50 years, just as we’re bringing Tears For Fears home the day before. The finale weekend is a brand new initiative for the festival, and we’re thrilled to be involved.”
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