Big hitters to grace Chase
AS it prepares to switch venues for 2017, Chase Park Festival has announced its headline act in the shape of The Coral.
In what is a genuine coup for one of the region’s blossoming festivals, music fans will be delighted to hear that the Liverpool lads are making a welcome return to the region and will be joined by other top acts for a full day of family fun and musical wonder at the event’s new home of Saltwell Park.
Newcastle’s much-loved indie outfit Little Comets have also been confirmed to perform at this year’s event, along with Sunderland’s Boy Jumps Ship and Teesside’s folk indie popsters Cattle and Cane, fresh from their sell-out show at the Sage Gateshead.
Speaking ahead of today’s line-up announcement – which will see yet more great bands added to the bill in the coming weeks – Chase Park Festival at Saltwell’s organiser, Alistair McDonald, said: “We’re delighted to secure The Coral as our headline act and I think it shows we are growing as a festival.
“We’re all massive fans of The Coral and they’re a brilliant live act. We wanted a lineup that was going to make people sit up and take notice and I think we’ve done that. Part of the ethos of the event is to provide an event that is accessible to all and to create a create a unique atmosphere, you only do that if you have a great line up that will appeal to people from all walks of life.
“I am really pleased to have a strong bill of established and emerging talent this year. We have got the amazing Little Comets just before The Coral, which I think it is brilliant.
The Coral, formed in Merseyside by brothers James and Ian James Skelly, were hailed as the first English band of the 21st century’s “guitar group revival” and have a string of chart hits including Dreaming of You, Pass it On and In the Morning.
Their eponymous debut album The Coral, released in 2002, reached number five on the UK Albums Chart and was nominated for the Mercury Prize the day after its release.
Since then, the band have gone on to release seven studio albums, including their latest critically acclaimed release, Distance In Between which confirmed that they’re one of the UK’s most influential and iconic bands of modern times.
Steve Davis, of SSD Concerts, who are responsible for spearheading Chase Park’s programme of music this year, added: “The Coral are one of our favourite bands and it’s great to see them coming to Gateshead.
“We have had a lot of successful shows with them over the years so brilliant to be bringing them back. They’re one of the great British sing-along indie bands and perfect to headline this year’s event.
“We’ve gone for a regional feel for this year. That’s why the likes of Little Comets, Cattle and Cane and Boy Jumps Ship will all taking part, they’re all amazing bands operating in totally different genres, so the event will have something for everyone.
“People should attend as its a great event. The new site gives it more options, more food options, more bar options and a great varied lineup.”
HOW TO GET TICKETS
General admission is £12.50, £7 for people with disability (carers go free), under 16s £7 and a family ticket (2 Adults / 2 Children) is £33.
Tickets are on sale now online from: http://www. seetickets.com/event/chase-park-festival-2017/ saltwell-park/1109867/.
INDIE FAVOURITES THE CORAL ARE HEADLINING ONE OF THE REGIONS’ EMERGING FESTIVALS. BY SIMON DUKE