Northampton Music Festival Reveal first wave of acts!
Northampton Town Music Festival is a free annual event designed to celebrate Northampton’s rich music culture.Taking place on the 28th July the main stage is hosted on Northampton’s beautiful market square, with 3 other stages and a range of venues all opening their doors in celebration of Northampton’s music culture
The ethos of The Northampton Music festival is simple, to bring the people of Northampton together to celebrate the town’s music culture, its people and its artists. The festival aims to provide a platform for local musicians and acts big and small, to take music into the community, and to present a national-calibre music festival, ensuring we have a good old party the way us Brits do best.
And now the festival organisers are delighted to be able to release their first official line up announcement!
With the addition of three extra stages, the focus for this year’s event has been to put a spotlight on local grass roots talent, alongside presenting established local artists and musicians from across the musical spectrum. In order to ensure that the festival sought out the best of Northamptonshire’s artists this year’s event has partnered with BBC Introducing, alongside opening an application process which saw well over 150 local acts apply to be involved.
With more announcements still to come across the main town centre stages and at over 15 participating venues, Northampton Music Festival are delighted to present the first confirmed acts for this year’s event.
King Pleasure Boogie 4
King Pleasure are more than just the world’s greatest swing & R&B band, they are an institution! The band have been on the road for almost three decades playing every European country as well as touring the USA, Russia and the MiddleEast, recording ten CDs.
Dazzling musicianship,riveting stage performances, more than 50 TV appearances and 75 radio broadcasts have established them as the Kings of Swing.
Citadel.
Citadel are a new exciting 7 piece band from Northamptonshire blending an array of vibrant styles including Latin, hip hop, funk, ska and reggae.
The band are made up of individuals each with eclectic influences but brought together as friends by their passion to create and share an exciting musical experience.
Decibels.
Decibels started in Kettering, Northamptonshire in 2011. They have released 2 singles. The first one was “ The Lesser” through Northampton label Serious Types and the Second single was “Ruza” through Nein Records. Ruza got to number 1 on the Juno Electronic dance download chart accompanied with a remix from Berlin artist Munk (Gomma Records). Decibels have gained regular Radio 1 airplay through Phil Taggart and Alice Levine and also Huw Stephens. Decibels were also released on a Warp Records Compilation with their song “Rubber Dinghy Rapids”. Decibels have been extremely well reviewed over the last year through some of the UK and US biggest online blogs, regularly hitting The Hype Machine. Their live show is a must see!
The Jets
The Jets secured a major recording contract with media giants EMI, achieving phenomenal success. Scoring hit records around the world, “Love Makes the world go round”,” Yes tonite Josephine” “Rockin around the xmas tree” appearing on hundreds of TV shows and featuring in national BBC and ITV Dramas.
The ultra-talented Cotton Brothers, have thrilled audiences professionally since 1980. Having performed alongside Sir Cliff Richard, Shakin Stevens, Meatloaf, the Police, Boy George, Madness and even Led Zeppelin! With over an amazing 2000 live shows to their credit, THE JETS never fail to deliver a sensational show.
Jay Brown.
Recent music industry discovery Jay Brown was born and bred in Northampton to Jamaican parents, brought up on a diet of grunge, reggae and country music. Her own style embraces all of that – and more!
As a youngster Jay spent her days hanging round the local skate park and playing music. As soon as she was old enough she moved to London where she played as many gigs as the capital could offer, developing her ballsy, honest approach to song writing and performance.
As a songwriter, Jay combines pathos and humour, emotional warmth and cool rhetoric, tied in with beautiful, handsome melodies. Live, Jay is captivating, delivering her vocals in a fluid mix of cockney, northern and patois, slipping from a seductive purr to an angry growl mid-phrase.
Jay has been heavily supported by BBC Introducing where her track Video was song of the week and gained national play listing. She has performed several live performances on air for Lal Muttock at Radio Northampton and she is about to hit the major festival scene as part of the BBC Introducing initiative.
Jon Martins Italian Divorce.
Jon Martin is a singer-songwriter from South Northamptonshire, best known for his work in Presley Johnson.
Italian Divorce is a musical venture currently underway for the outlet of all that emerges from Jon Martin’s solo efforts. Without following a particular given genre or style, Jon mixes a huge back-catologue of influence with an ever present love of power-pop, drenched in layered harmony and to-the point melody. 2013 will see the rise of this work on the live scene with session musicians re-creating his recordings, along with stripped back solo acoustic performances on other occasions.
The debut album ‘What The Heck Is Strawberry Blamange’ was released on Stalkers Records on 29th April 2013.
Greg Coulson 
Greg started fronting blues bands at the age of twelve, both singing and playing, and was gigging regularly in pubs and clubs around Northamptonshire. This was the style of music he loved and cherished, “I knew then that this wasn’t just a hobby but would be my career”.
Greg got his first big break at the age of 19, with the legendary two-tone band The Selecter. Known as a Hammond player, and not just a keyboard player, Greg has been with the current line up for the past 3 years, having toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe and more recently Australia and America.
Greg has been writing his own material for the past six years and has relished in the opportunity to recently record his debut album ‘Stitch’. Working alongside Stuart Dixon (Dani Wilde and Eddie Floyd), 2013 will be a busy year for the 22 year old blues singer/songwriter as he begins another exciting musical journey producing and promoting the new album.
The Introducing Hip Hop Showcase.
Bringing together the crème de la crème of Northampton’s hip hop and urban music talent, the hip hop showcase will see a collaboration between MC’s rappers, musicians and producers to create an audio masterpiece which will firmly put Northampton’s rich hip hop scene on the map.
Other additions to the line-up include:
The Northampton Rock Choir, Kenneth J Nash, Sean Grant, Northampton Gospel Choir, Megan Balmforth, Sonnet, Barricades Rise, Carly Loasby, You Me Us, Bee Church, Velvet engine and Corinna Jane.
With more announcements to come alongside a host of other attractions this year’s music festival will see the town centre bought to life with music like never before!
For more information on the Northampton Music Festival please visit the website at:
