Manchester legends James have confirmed their only Scottish festival appearance this year as Friday night headliner at the 10th Anniversary of The Wickerman Festival (22-23 July 2011). Joining them on the Summerisle Stage is local talent Emma’s Imagination and the hotly tipped Denver singer songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff. All three acts will play alongside previously announced acts including Feeder, The Coral, Echo & The Bunnymen, Noisettes, The Hoosiers, Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club (DJ Set), The Damned and From The Jam.
Fronted by the charismatic Tim Booth, James’ set is sure to be filled with hit after hit as the band have the well earned luxury of picking out the best of an expansive back-catalogue which stretches over twelve studio albums. With classic indie tracks such as ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Laid’ in their locker, James is an act no music lover can afford to miss.
Jim from James said: “We’ve heard great things about Wickerman and it’s a joy and a privilege to be playing the festival on its 10th Anniversary. Over the years we have enjoyed incredible support from the Scots and have shared in some unforgettable concerts. As our only festival appearance north of the border this year, we expect a party!”
Also confirmed is Edinburgh-born artist and friend of the Wickerman Emma Gillespie also known as Emma’s Imagination. Emma will make a triumphant return to the festival having worked with the onsite crew and performed in the Acoustic Village for a number of years before clinching victory and a £100,000 prize in Sky One talent show Must Be the Music.
Not one to follow the conventional route, Emma played live at Wembley and had two singles in the top ten at once shortly before signing her first recording contract. “I’ve done it all back to front,” she laughs, “which is the way things usually happen in my life. It’s always sideways, never straightforward.”
Denver based singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff and his band will also make their Wickerman debut this year, playing tracks from their acclaimed album ‘In Memory of Loss’. Raised in rural Missouri, Rateliff’s music retains echoes of country storytelling in its introspective tracks, with shards of guitar rising beneath hushed melodies. Appearing at Wickerman on the back of a European tour and a stirring appearance on BBC Two’s Later… with Jools Holland, Rateliff’s voice “deep and rich and full of intimations of a life well lived” (The Guardian) is causing quite a stir.
Fans can now also download a brand new and free Wickerman app from the Apple store, which allows users to scan Quick Response (QR) codes. The app has been specifically designed to scan QR codes attached to the festival’s advertising, however, it will read most codes in circulation. If you scan a Wickerman code it will take you directly to the website or possibly even a competition to win tickets. The app can be downloaded at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/wicker-scan/id439665008?mt=8
Taking place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July at East Kirkcarswell Farm in Dumfries & Galloway, the tenth festival will feature ten stages including the Summerisle Stage, Scooter Tent, The Acoustic Village, AXIS Reggae Tent, Bass Camp, Greenman Inn, Headphone Arena, Ho Down Wendy House, Solus and for the first time the goNORTH Festival Tour Stage.
Adult weekend ticket prices start at £90. For full ticket information and to buy, go to http://www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk/tickets.html
