Wickerman announces Scooter Tent line up for 2014
The Beat & Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra to take centre stage
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th July 2014 / www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
The Wickerman Festival has today, Wednesday 30th April, announced that seminal 2-Tone band The Beat and classic ska act Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra will be headlining its famous Scooter Tent this year.
The Beat, who are known the world over for their string of hit singles, will undoubtedly deliver a dynamic live show in the hugely popular punk & ska tent on Friday 25th July, while on 
Saturday 26th, Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra, which was formed by the legendary Madness saxophonist, will take to the stage to stir up the crowds. Joining them on the bill are Cockney Rejects, Sonic Boom Six, Anti-Pasti and The New Piccadillys amongst others.
Formed in 1978 as part of the West Midland ska revival scene, The Beat are one of the biggest bands of the 2-Tone movement. Their relentless energy and world class musicianship has garnered a loyal international following and resulted in hits that include ‘Mirror in the bathroom’, ‘Too nice to talk to you’ and ‘Hands off she’s mine’. Their arresting fusion of ska, pop, reggae and punk rock is set to ignite festival revellers.
Iconic British band, The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra will top the bill on Saturday night with what promises to be an unforgettable ska and reggae knees up. The band, complete with fellow Madness
bassist Mark “Bedders” Bedford and a line-up of influential collaborators, promise to deliver a timeless set of their favourite reggae and ska covers.
Joining them will be explosive punk rock band, Cockney Rejects , who formed in East London in the late seventies as an answer to the art school punk that dominated the scene up untill then. Known for their riotous version of ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ and ‘Oi, Oi, Oi’, the energetic four-piece returned to the live circuit in 2000 due to overwhelming demand.
Manchester five-piece Sonic Boom Six who describe themselves as a punk-rock, hip-hop, jump-up ska sound clash will also be storming the Scooter Tent stage this year. A true product of their city centre environment and an active fixture on the UK punk scene, their music combines social commentary with an eclectic mix of sounds. Their influences include Public Enemy, The Fugees, The Streets, The Specials and The Clash. Four-piece British punk band Anti-Pasti are set to deliver a raucous performance during the event. Founded in 1978, the band boasted number one hits in the UK indie charts in the 70s and 80s and their 1981 debut album ‘The Last Call’ is a certified classic from the second wave of punk.
Also getting the Scooter Tent bouncing will be alternative, ska band Imperial Leisure who have supported infamous acts like Roots Manuva, Less than Jake and Young Blood Brass Band with their high energy live performances. Glasgow’s four piece beat group The New Piccadillys will also join the bill and combine a 60s sound with a 70s punk rock sensibility. Twanging guitars and pounding drums provide the backing for their tight harmony beat versions of classics such as The Ramones’ ‘Judy is a Punk’and many other rock ‘n’ roll treasures. Eight-piece northern soul and motown troupe Berry Tweed and The Chasers will return to Wickerman this year to once again electrify the stage whilst London’s punk ukele outfit The Pukes are set to deliver a storming live set.
On Saturday, British punk band The Members will entertain the Wicker crowds with classic tracks such as their 1978 hit ‘The Sound of the Suburbs.’ Joining them will be Glasgow’s Clash tribute band Counterfeit Clash who are set to create their own brand of mesmerising mayhem on stage and 1970s punk rock group The Lurkers. Four-piece punk, ska, dance act Root System will be also be returning to the popular tent to get Scotland’s hottest Summer party going over the weekend whilst Edinburgh’s 10-piece collective, Victorian Trout Conspiracy, promise to get the Wicker crowds skanking.
Helen Chalmers, Wickerman’s Festival Coordinator, commented:
“Our legendary Scooter Tent is a key attraction for many of our festival goers, so we are delighted to announce that two truly iconic ska headliners will top the bill in 2014. This year’s line up offer a truly eclectic mix of timeless classics to exciting new fusions”
Friday
The Beat
One of the biggest bands of the 2-Tone movement, The Beat present a wall of sound that transcends time and ska fusion rhythms to ignite a crowd. The Beat are known the world over for a string of hit singles, including ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, ‘Too Nice To Talk To’, ‘Can’t Get Used To Losing You’, ‘Hands off She’s Mine’ and ‘All Out To Get You’. Their songs of peace, love and unity fuse ska, pop, reggae and punk rock and their dynamic live show has garnered them a loyal following at home and abroad. The Beat formed in Birmingham in 1978 and form part of the West Midlands ska revival scene.
Sonic Boom six
Sonic Boom Six (often shortened to SB6) are a five-piece band from Manchester. Their eclectic sound combines different elements of several genres and has been described by Kerrang! as “taking ska, pop, grime, dubstep, punk and metal apart, then rebuilding them as a hyperactive hybrid”. Their lyrics tend to focus on social commentary with a live show known for “clashing activism and good times”. The band’s influences include Bad Brains, Public Enemy, The Fugees, The Specials, The Streets, and The Clash.
Imperial Leisure
Alt-Ska band Imperial Leisure are renowned as champions of the live arena, although they’ve paid their dues in the studio too, with twoalbums under their belt and a third on the way. Featuring on brass they have original member Rob O’Neale on trumpet along-side Jerome Harper (Brassroots) razzing things up on the trombone; Richard Cox (keys), Ben Bridges (guitar) and Jack Emmings (Bass) join founding member Scott Vining (drums) to make up the rhythm section. Denis Smith (aka dboy dnice) with his pogo sticks for legs takes the reins on main vocals with Ushwin Pye backing up (Orikai-Mumcuss). The brass line-up will include young up-and-comings Justas Keliuotis, Russell Spencer (Ghouls) and Dave Medland (Danny Fontaine and The Horns of Fury), giving the band a renewed energy.
The New Piccadillys
A four piece beat group from Glasgow, who combine a 1960s sound with a 1970s punk rock sensibility. Their twanging guitars and pounding drums provide the backing for their tight harmony beat versions of classics such as The Ramones’ Judy is a Punk and many other Rock ‘n’ Roll treasures from various eras.
The Pukes
The Pukes are a seven-piece punk ukulele group based in London. They play songs by the likes of Dead Kennedys, Exploited, Xray Spex and The Clash, like they’ve never been heard before – as well as their own original tunes.
The band formed in 2011 and soon found themselves in high demand and began to play gig, festivals and punk picnics in London. In 2013 they release their debut EP
Berry Tweed and The Chasers
Berry Tweed and the Chasers class their style as classic, cult and self penned soul. Live performances from the flame haired femme fatale and her eight-piece band have received an outstanding reception all over the country.
Root System
Root System are a four piece band of two brothers and close pals Ryan (Drummer) and Harry (Bass). Root System have been on the go for four years now and have gigged up and down the country including the likes of Brixton, Glasgow, Inverness, Elgin, and Edinburgh. They have played at a Wickerman a number of times.
Saturday
Lee Thompson’s Ska orchestra
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra are a British band formed in 2011 by Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson. The band consists of an ever-shifting line-up of ska and reggae-orientated musicians playing classic ska covers. Their debut album, The Benevolence Of Sister Mary Ignatius (Axe Attack Records) was released in 2013.
Cockney Rejects
The band were formed in the late seventies in East London as an answer to the art school punk that had dominated the scene up until then. Fiercely working class in stance and attitude, the band shunned the political ramblings of punk’s first wave and sang about the circumstances that surrounded them. Signed by EMI after playing four local gigs they found themselves playing sell out tours the length and breadth of the UK and seeing their debut album storm the charts.
After a short break, the band returned to the live circuit in 2000, playing to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe with a live set that is so energetic that it has to be seen to be believed. With the fractionalization of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s now gone for good, with every gig becoming a party for fans and band alike, the Cockney Rejects go from strength to strength.
Anti-Pasti
Anti-Pasti are a British punk band, founded by vocalist Martin Roper and guitarist Dugi Bell in 1978, featuring Kev Nixon on drums and Will Hoon on bass guitar. Later they were joined by a second guitarist, Ollie Hoon. Their first album, The Last Call, spent seven weeks in the UK Albums Chart.
The Members
Formed in Surrey in 1977, the Members played at the Roxy and many other Punk clubs on the London circuit. The original band – composed of Nicky Tesco (vocals), Jean-Marie Caroll (guitar), Nigel Bennett (guitar), Adrian Lillywhite (drums), and Chris Payne (bass) -was among the first to successfully blend reggae rhythms with punk’s attitude and aggression.
The Counterfeit Clash
The Counterfeit Clash are a Glasgow based Clash tribute band formed in 1996. George (aka Poods) and John (aka Jude) formed their act with two fellow Clash fans, Rab McCahill and Johnny Leslie- The Counterfeit Clash was born and the band set about rehearsing a 45 minute Clash set.
The Lurkers
Inspired by American bands such as the Ramones and the New York Dolls, the British beat boom of the sixties and Glam Rock acts like Slade and Sweet. The Lurkers formed in West London in mid 1976 and
quickly forged their own identity with their own brand of punk tunes and lyrics encompassing subjects such as social unacceptability and personal politics.
Victorian Trout Conspiracy
The Victorian Trout Conspiracy have been described as a mix of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and The Specials. The 10-piece collective are relatively new to the ska scene, however their energetic performances of blend ska, funk and rock’n’roll, always get the audience jumping.
The Wickerman Festival
Wickerman is one of the UK’s best-loved independent music festivals and is now entering its 13th consecutive year. With ten stages featuring an eclectic and exciting mix of leading artists, alternative acts and up-and-coming talent, the two day summer party caters for all musical tastes.
It is one of the friendliest festivals in Scotland and with hundreds of music-loving families in attendance each year, there’s a host of cool kids entertainment and activities on offer. The festival site is a working farm in picturesque Dumfries and Galloway; its rolling hills, lush forests and fresh country air make for a refreshing vibe. It is also where the classic 1973 Wicker Man film was made – the inspiration for the festival’s name.
The Wickerman site is a wonderland for adults and children alike with a cinema, fun fair, circus entertainment, grass sledging, mountain biking and array of arts and craft activities scattered throughout its fields. High quality yurts, tipis and cloud houses and spacious campsites complete the magical festival experience.
Every year the festival stages an unforgettable finale, as thousands of fans flock to watch a towering 40ft Wickerman be spectacularly set alight.
Homecoming Scotland 2014
The Wickerman Festival forms part of Homecoming Scotland’s 2014 Events Programme. This year, Scotland will welcome the world in theYear of Homecoming 2014 – providing a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.
The Year of Homecoming Scotland will run from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2014 throughout the length and breadth of the country. Visitors from around the world are invited to join in a celebration of the nation’s food and drink, active pursuits, cultural heritage, nature and ancestral heritage. Homecoming Scotland 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative being led by EventScotland and VisitScotland, supported by numerous partners. To find out more visit www.homecomingscotland.com
Wickerman Festival 2014
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th July 2014 / www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, Dumfries & Galloway
Tickets can be purchased from http://wickerman.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=11715304
