Ready for Lunar lift-off
WARWICKSHIRE’S Lunar Festival is to return this June with an enticing line-up of classic acts headlining.
The festival’s headliners include Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev, Television, Badly Drawn Boy, The Zombies, Os Mutantes, Matt Berry and The Maypoles, Bentley Rhythm Ace and local folk legend Ashley Hutchings, of Fairport Convention fame.
Taking place on 3rd to 5th June in the enchanting rural setting of Tanworth-in-Arden, resting place of legendary singer Nick Drake, festival organisers said they pride themselves on making Lunar a “magical odyssey which likes to do things just a little bit differently”.
Following on from 2015’s breakthrough year, this June’s Lunar is certainly maturing its unique appeal. Lunar is musically diverse with something for all the family — a vibrant range of arts, crafts, activities and games, complemented by artisan food and drink from across the region.
There is a wide range of camping and accommodation options including Bell Tent and Tipi hire, gypsy bow caravans and local hotels.
When Herald arts went along to last year’s festival, where we saw some great acts, including The Fall, Julian Cope and Wilko Johnson, we found the festival vibe to be very friendly with a delightful hippy feel.
There was so much to see and explore and the countryside setting is idyllic. See you down the front!
THE HEADLINERS
Friday Night: Mercury Rev Formed in New York by co-founders Grasshopper and Jonathan Donahue, Mercury Rev found success during the Britpop era with their melodic psychedlia-infused pop. Their recently released album, The Light In You, is filled with wondrous and voluminous kaleidoscopic detail, but also intimate moments of calm, and altogether stands up to the very best that this notable band of maverick explorers has ever created.
Sunday Night: Super Furry Animals Known as indie rock’s most engaging eccentrics, Herald arts must confess that Super Furry Animals are one of our favourite all-time bands. Renowned for an energetic and exhilarating live show, the band has become synonymous with their native Wales and are considered a bona fide national treasure. This is exhibited by last year’s special 15th anniversary re-issue of their only entirely Welsh language LP, Mwng, by Domino Records. To mark the event, Super Furry Animals — dormant since the 2009 tour for their last album Dark Days/Light Years due to individual music projects — got together to perform together again. Herald arts caught their Brixton Academy show and we were amazed by a scintillating set list of all their top, eminently catchy tunes and dazzled by their psychedelic light show. One thing is guaranteed, if they’re are on, it’s party time.
Saturday Night: Television Television were one of the most innovative bands to emerge from New York’s edgy underground scene of the mid-70s. Guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd didn’t quite follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation — they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. Marquee Moon, the group’s first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim. Since then the band have had various periods of inactivity and Lloyd quit, replaced by Jimmy Rip, but the band’s seminal sounds remains as invigorating as ever.
WHEN AND WHERE: Weekend tickets are £115 for adults, £4 for those aged 12 to 15, £5 for younger children; day tickets £45 and £19. For other ticket options, see www.lunarfestival.co.uk
