Stockton’s biggest music and comedy festival, Stockton Weekender, will be landing on the bank of the River Tees for three days of tremendous entertainment, featuring some of the world’s finest musicians as well as a healthy dollop of local talent.

Taking place from Friday 5^th to Sunday 7^th August the festival boasts an almighty line up of Seasick Steve, Maximo Park, Newton Faulkner, Cast, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, The Chapman Family, Young Rebel Set, Django Django, Saint Saviour, Pete Molinari, Chased By Wolves, to name but a few!

The world-renowned American blues musician Seasick Steve will be headlining Friday night as he hits the international festival circuit with a Top 10 album, You Can’t Teach A New Dog Old Tricks, in tow.

Platinum selling artist Newton Faulkner is also playing the Friday night, along with Teesside mavericks Young Rebel Set, rock’n’roll lovies Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Bruce Springsteen’s current man of the moment Pete Molinari.

Confirmed to headline Saturday night are British Rock royalty and the double platinum selling Maximo Park. Lead singer Paul Smith is originally from the area so makes a welcome return to home soil.

Re-formed 90s heroes Cast and Teesside darlings The Chapman Family will also be setting the stage alight on the Saturday along with London based four-piece Django Django and Stockton girl Saint Saviour, returning for her debut Teesside festival gig.

Add to this an abundance of homegrown talent including Jimmy & The Sounds, Sister Rose, Temujin, Be Quiet. Shout Loud!, Collectors Club and you’ve got a very juicy line up, and there’s still more to come!

There is also the added bonus of a fully facilitated campsite, only a short walk from the main site, perfect for those wanting the full festival experience.

Sunday remains a free day perfect for family fun, featuring The Wildcats of Kilkenny, Suspiciously Elvis, Henry Priestman and many more…

And did we mention the comedy?! Richard Morton, Dan Nightingale, Ian Stone, Barry Dodds and Gary Delaney, make up the vanguard of a stellar comedy line up, in the now legendary festival comedy tent.

Ticket prices for entry to watch the music are £15 a day (Friday/Saturday) and £25 for a weekend ticket. Children under 14 go free but must be accompanied by an adult. Sunday remains free entry. Tickets will be £20 on the day. Advanced comedy prices are £10 per day or £15 for the weekend; entry to individual sessions will be available on the day. Ticket information at www.stocktonweekender.co.uk.

Friday 5th August

Seasick Steve

World-renowned American blues musician Seasick Steve brings his home made instruments to Teesside for what is set to be a jumpin’ hot set.

Newton Faulkner

Acoustic dreamer Newton Faulkner is best known for his hit singles Dream Catch Me and Teardrop, as well as his No. 1 Platinum selling debut album Hand Built By Robots.

 Kitty Daisy and Lewis

These 50s inspired siblings are Glastonbury stalwarts, have supported the likes of Jools Holland and Coldplay and will literally rock your world.

 Young Rebel Set

Teesside’s own mysterious troubadours, preaching full-blooded tales of tough love, hard luck and the triumph of romance against the odds.

Pete Molinari

British singer, songwriter Molinari creates feel good music that will have you dancing like there’s no tomorrow, not to be missed.

Chased By Wolves

A Newcastle five piece who blend blues, country and alt-folk into a gorgeous melting pot, evoking artists as varied as Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac and Ryan Adams.

Elaine Palmer

Talented singer-songwriter from a sleepy-village on the North York moors. Romantic and folky, just how we like it.

Soviet Disco

These Teesside boys never fail to impress with their massive rifts and fist thrashing drumbeats; creating atmospheric anthems comes as second nature.

Temujin

With influences ranging from Damon Albarn through to Nirvana, they have a sound that skirts the dirty line between indie pop and grunge rock.

Be Quiet. Shout Loud!

Disco. Electro. Punk. Feather Boas. This sextet from Middlesbrough has been working hard on a load of new material but they are quite possibly the most exhilarating live experience around.

Saturday 6 August

Maximo Park

With two double platinum LPs as well as a Mercury nomination for their debut, A Certain Trigger, Maximo Park are British rock royalty and pure dynamite live.

Cast

Liverpool legends Cast have reformed and are heading back on the road due to popular demand and with a brand new album in tow.

The Chapman Family

With a bruising energy and a gigantic sound, The Chapman Family are back on the big stage where they belong!

Django Django

London 4-Piece Django Django adds a little “Psychedelic art pop at its brilliant best.” (The Guardian) to our Saturday line up – tasty!

 Saint Savior

A prolific songwriter with an extraordinary vocal talent, Stockton sweetheart Saint Saviour is a more than welcome addition to the Weekender line up.

Jimmy & The Sounds

Bustling indie pop anthems from Stockton’s very own fab-four. Songs Heart For Rent and Sounds are firm favourites with crowds far and wide.

Sister Rose

Energetic indie/rock of the highest order and colossal tunes The Verve would be proud of.

Collectors Club  

The band on everybody’s lips and it’s no surprise with a sound described as ‘A crossbreed of Vampire Weekend and The Libertines’ – with out a doubt one to watch out for.

Young Hegelians

Dishing out off kilter post-punk al la Talking Heads and Gang of Four. A knee quaking live experience, not to be missed.

Randy & The Handstand Band

Local lads with a knack for an Arctic Monkeys-esque foot-stomper and a name so funky you can dance to it.

LINKS:

STOCKTON WEEKENDER:     http://www.stocktonweekender.co.uk/

By peter on July 27, 2011