Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls have been unveiled as the big Saturday night headline act for Wickham Festival.
It is a major coup for organisers who have finally secured the Wessex Boy for what is effectively a hometown gig.
Turner, who grew up in Winchester, is now one of the biggest names on the rock circuit having played at the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics as well as selling out some of the biggest arenas in the country.
One of the hardest-working artists around with more than 2,300 gigs to his name, he has just concluded a sell-out nationwide tour including the 6,000-capacity Bournemouth International Centre and his appearance at Wickham is sure to send ticket sales soaring.
Organiser Peter Chegwyn said: “We are so thrilled to have got Frank Turner at long last; we have been chasing him for years but the dates never quite matched.
“We are delighted that he is able to slot us in between festivals in Austria and Slovenia and I know he will be hugely popular with our fans. He is an incredible live act.
“Last weekend’s concert in Bournemouth was sensational with many there saying it was the best they had ever seen him and I know our crowd are in for an amazing night.”
Turner will headline Saturday August 3 to complete a stellar line-up which this week has seen the addition of rock legend Graham Nash for the Thursday, top American guitarist Stanley Jordan for the Friday and Grammy winning country singer Lucinda Williams for the Sunday.
They join The Proclaimers, Judy Collins, Level 42, Alabama 3, Ralph McTell, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Hollywood icon Kiefer Sutherland and his band plus many more.
Chegwyn added: “The line-up is pretty well finished now; I’m not sure we could fit any more superstars in! This is definitely the strongest array of artists we have ever had. It is just as well we have extended the Village Stage to give it equal billing with the Valley Stage.
“Tickets are selling fast since we started announcing our headliners and we are expecting another rush of applications after confirming Frank Turner who is hugely popular and appeals to all age ranges.
“We have had a lot of enquiries about day tickets especially for Kiefer Sutherland on the Sunday but it shows the buzz that has been created by a global superstar coming to such a small village and it now looks like Saturday will sell out too.
“We have already sold a lot of weekend tickets even before we unveiled the headliners because people know the unique atmosphere will remain the same – but now sales will really soar.
“Even though we can now accommodate 7,000 people, the festival still has a real family-friendly feel with plenty to entertain young children as well as a great range of food, drink and craft stalls plus four days of fantastic music.”
Weekend tickets are now on sale at just £150 per adult or £75 for each Under 16 with Under 10’s admitted completely free. Adult day tickets are £40 for August 1 and £55 for each of the other three days; children aged 10-16 are half price. Weekend camping can be booked at £30 per tent or caravan/motorhome. Click here to buy tickets.
