Lightning strikes Blyth...
The Lightning Seeds announced as headliners for Northumberland Live Festival
THERE is Pure delight for fans of The Lightning Seeds as the nineties indie favourites are announced as the headliners of Northumberland Live Festival.
Organisers of this year’s free festival, which is set to draw crowds of around 15,000 to Blyth this summer, unveiled the headline act on Friday morning.
And the band – famous for the hit Three Lions – are set to prove a roaring success when they head-up the bill in June.
Formed by lead singer Ian Broudie in 1989, The Lightning Seeds first rocketed up the charts in the 1990s and – with hits such as Pure, Sense, The Life of Riley and Lucky You under their belts – they’ve kept the momentum going, winning over a whole new era of fans with Three Lions in 1996.
This football song – to mark the England team’s battle in the European Championships that year – marked a collaboration with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner who then presented comedy show Fantasy Football League.
And with Broudie writing the music and the comedians the “hope and failure” lyrics, the hit song scored number one spot in the UK charts.
Then, after it had proved so fitting in view of England’s 1996 loss in a penalty shoot-out against Germany, it made number one again two years later in 1998, when it was re-recorded with slightly different – though similarly resigned – lyrics – and sold more than a million copies.
Now fans can expect to find passions – and hopes – raised once again when they hear the anthem, alongside those early hits, in this World Cup year when The Lightning Seeds take to the stage.
The band follow in the wake of last year’s headliners The Undertones and, previously, Scouting For Girls who attracted 15,000 music-lovers.
Organisers are expecting the same numbers at this year’s festival when it kicks off on June 23.
Already on the line-up are the likes of blues rocks band STAN; rock and rollers The Baldy Holly Band, and rockers Edenthorn.
Coun Kath Nisbet, of Blyth Town Council which is hosting Northumberland Live Festival, said: “It’s very appropriate that in the World Cup year we are bringing the band who wrote the most successful football song ever to Blyth.
“I’m sure that everyone will be singing along to Three Lions to show our support for the national football team.”
The festival, partnered by BBC Newcastle, will also include street theatre, a funfair and food.
There also remain opportunities to showcase talent and add to the music bill, as some support slots are still available.
Anyone interested is taking one is invited to contact the festival’s Facebook page or to email mel.jackson@ blythtowncouncil.org.uk
BARBARA
HODGSON HAS NEWS OF THE FIRST HEADLINE ACT TO BE ANNOUNCED FOR THIS YEAR’S NORTHUMBERLAND LIVE FESTIVAL