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. \u00a0They join headliners Tears for Fears and Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters for a stellar weekend in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n
SATURDAY 26 MAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Sophie Ellis-Bextor<\/strong><\/p>\n The Brit Award nominated singer, songwriter and model came to prominence in the late 90s, reaching number two in the\u00a0UK Albums Chart\u00a0with the double platinum selling\u00a0Read My Lips<\/em> which spawned three top three singles, including Take Me Home<\/em> and Murder on the Dancefloor<\/em> (Europe\u2019s most played song of 2002). Sophie also sang on the universal number 1 Groovejet (If This Ain\u2019t Love)<\/em>, which won the Ericsson Muzik Awards for Best Single and Best Ibiza Tune of 2000.<\/p>\n There were three more Top 10 singles that decade before Sophie\u2019s fifth studio album,\u00a0Wanderlust<\/em>\u00a0marked a change in musical direction, rising to number 4 in the UK on its release in 2014, followed by the album Familia<\/em> in 2016.<\/p>\n Freya Ridings<\/strong><\/p>\n 23-year-old Londoner Freya Ridings released her debut single Blackout<\/em> in May 2017. Produced by Rich Costey, it has flown past 1m Spotify streams. Her latest single, Maps<\/em> (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.<\/p>\n Rhys Lewis<\/strong><\/p>\n Singer-songwriter Rhys Lewis who has released four songs on Decca, including his latest soulful ballad, Be Your Man<\/em>. Rhys became somewhat of an online sensation, with his first release Waking Up Without You<\/em> soaring to the #1 spot on Spotify\u2019s Viral Chart. He has since racked up 4.5 million streams in total.<\/p>\n SUNDAY 27 MAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n Imelda May<\/strong><\/p>\n Special guest, Imelda May, is the unique Irish vocal talent, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who released her fifth studio album,\u00a0Life. Love. Flesh<\/em>. Blood\u00a0in April last year. Her first two singles, Johnny Got a Boom Boom<\/em> and Big Bad Handsome Man<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n Midge Ure OBE<\/strong><\/p>\n Best known for his involvement with Band Aid and the song Do They Know It\u2019s Christmas<\/em>, Midge\u2019s distinguished career has been recognised with Ivor Novello and Grammy awards along with a flotilla of gold and platinum records. Midge\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Midge\u2019s catalogue of hits run from Slik\u2019s Forever And Ever<\/em> to Visage\u2019s Fade To Grey<\/em> to Ultravox\u2019 Reap the Wild Wind, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Love’s Great Adventure<\/em> and 1981’s timeless Vienna<\/em>, along with his solo hit No Regrets<\/em>. He co-wrote and produced Do They Know It\u2019s Christmas<\/em> which went on to raise \u00a38 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.<\/p>\n