The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Oktoberfest
Slessor Gardens, Dundee, September 26 to 28
A renowned 1980s new wave band and one of the UK’s top Queen tribute acts will top the bill at this year’s Oktoberfest, organised by Dundee Rotary.
Sheffield group Heaven 17, whose single Temptation reached number two in the UK charts in 1982, are the headline performers for the final night of this year’s festival at Slessor Gardens.
Tribute act Magic Queen are expected to be a popular choice as they top the bill on Friday, with 12 local bands providing support over the three nights and one afternoon.
Oktoberfest has become one of the biggest annual events in Dundee’s entertainment calendar and this year is expected to be a stellar celebration of beer, music and German food and fundraising for charity.
Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory, who reformed Heaven 17, said in a joint statement: “We are really looking forward to coming to Dundee and supporting the Rotary Club by performing.
“Scottish crowds are always good fun and all of this is for such a good cause.”
Last year, having moved from its original setting of Discovery Quay to the bigger Waterfront venue of Slessor Gardens, the event attracted more than 2,500 people, and raised more than £26,000 for good causes, including Dundee Stroke Exercise Club, Brae Riding, Insight Counselling, Friends of the Botanic Garden, Quilts & Co and transport for schools and community groups.
It was a major success, with the biggest crowd converging on the venue on the closing night for the performance by pop and indie rock group the Magic Numbers.
Organisers hope the 2019 festival – which will be the ninth – will be as successful and are hoping to be similarly generous to local charitable ventures.
Other bands due to perform include Pretty Verdant, The Vintage Girls, Sound Machine, Jive Candy, Rock Bottom, The Mess Arounds, Fizzle Chimps, Captain Jack, Sonnet 65, Interceptors, Paper Tiger and Miami Vince.
Robert Dunn, chairman of the Oktoberfest organising committee and past president of Dundee Rotary Club, said: “We again look forward to hosting this year’s event at Slessor Gardens for what we believe will be a hugely successful and enjoyable festival.”
Tickets are on sale at Dundee Box Office and Grouchos.