Second wave of acts announced for The Bath Festival finale weekend on the Rec
We’re excited to announce seven new acts for The Bath Festival finale weekend on the Rec – Imelda May, Midge Ure, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Seth Lakeman, and up and coming indie artists Freya Ridings, Jade Bird and Rhys Lewis. They join headliners Tears for Fears and Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters for a stellar weekend in the heart of the city.
SATURDAY 26 MAY
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
The Brit Award nominated singer, songwriter and model came to prominence in the late 90s, reaching number two in the UK Albums Chart with the double platinum selling Read My Lips which spawned three top three singles, including Take Me Home and Murder on the Dancefloor (Europe’s most played song of 2002). Sophie also sang on the universal number 1 Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love), which won the Ericsson Muzik Awards for Best Single and Best Ibiza Tune of 2000.
There were three more Top 10 singles that decade before Sophie’s fifth studio album, Wanderlust marked a change in musical direction, rising to number 4 in the UK on its release in 2014, followed by the album Familia in 2016.
Freya Ridings
23-year-old Londoner Freya Ridings released her debut single Blackout in May 2017. Produced by Rich Costey, it has flown past 1m Spotify streams. Her latest single, Maps (a breath-taking version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs original song) also made a big impact as word begins to spread of this young talent.
Rhys Lewis
Singer-songwriter Rhys Lewis who has released four songs on Decca, including his latest soulful ballad, Be Your Man. Rhys became somewhat of an online sensation, with his first release Waking Up Without You soaring to the #1 spot on Spotify’s Viral Chart. He has since racked up 4.5 million streams in total.
SUNDAY 27 MAY
With Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters returning to Bath almost 50 years after Led Zeppelin played Bath Blues Festival and inspired Michael Eavis to create Glastonbury, a number of artists have been added to the Sunday bill:
Imelda May
Special guest, Imelda May, is the unique Irish vocal talent, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who released her fifth studio album, Life. Love. Flesh. Blood in April last year. Her first two singles, Johnny Got a Boom Boom and Big Bad Handsome Man were released in 2009, she has toured with the likes of Jools Holland and Jamie Cullum, and appeared on stage with the likes of U2, Sir Tom Jones and Smokey Robinson.
Midge Ure OBE
Best known for his involvement with Band Aid and the song Do They Know It’s Christmas, Midge’s distinguished career has been recognised with Ivor Novello and Grammy awards along with a flotilla of gold and platinum records. Midge’s life in music spans the leadership of bands such as Slik, The Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Visage, and Ultravox, and he has also directed rock concerts for The Prince’s Trust, Night of the Proms, Wicked Women for Breakthrough and in honour of Nelson Mandela.
Midge’s catalogue of hits run from Slik’s Forever And Ever to Visage’s Fade To Grey to Ultravox’ Reap the Wild Wind, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Love’s Great Adventure and 1981’s timeless Vienna, along with his solo hit No Regrets. He co-wrote and produced Do They Know It’s Christmas which went on to raise £8 million for the starving in Africa. Midge is no stranger to Bath, living just outside, and continuing to record at his studio in the city.
Seth Lakeman
Seth’s eighth studio album Ballads of the Broken Few is a stunning combination of his dynamic song writing and playing. He re-released the Top 20 album, with added bonus tracks around his performance at BBC Radio 2’s Festival in a Day at Hyde Park in September 2017.
Seth has been touring in the UK with Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, playing as part of Robert’s band in addition to solo performances. Seth has performed around the world with artists such as Jools Holland, Runrig and Billy Bragg since his first album, Kitty Jay was nominated for a Mercury Prize, and his follow-up, Freedom Fields went Gold.
Jade Bird
British singer, songwriter and musician Jade Bird’s debut EP, Something American was released in July 2017 and Rolling Stone described her vocals as raw and robust and named her as a new country artist to watch in July 2017.
Our CEO, Ian Stockley, said: “It is hugely exciting to be able to announce these additional acts that are shaping further the two-day finale weekend experience for the community. Bringing to Bath up and coming artists with the likes of Freya and Rhys Lewis to perform alongside those fully established on the global stage is a huge part of our programming across the 17 day festival.”
The Bath Festival runs from 11 to 27 May.
How to book
In person at Bath Box Office from 9.30am to 5.30pm from Thursday 1st February.
By telephone on 01225 463362.
Online by visit our What’s On page.