Welsh giants lead the way as Y Not gets set to return
AFTER months of silence, organisers of the Y Not Festival have announced they are planning to bounce back this year with one of the most exciting line-ups in the event’s history.
Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Gabrielle, Bombay Bicycle Club, Blossoms, Fontains, James and The Levellers are among the acts lined up to help the Ashbourne-born festival light up its Pikehall venue this summer, as Covid-19 restrictions finally look set to ease enough to allow it to go ahead.
Running from Friday, July 30 until Sunday, August 1, the locally-run, award-winning event had to put its 15th Y Not Festival on ice last year as lockdowns shut the country down.
But managing director Jason Oakley, who grew up in Ashbourne and was one of the festival’s founders, says this year will be different.
He said: “After a tough year for live music, there’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Y Not Festival for the celebration we all deserve.
“We’ll be bringing you our biggest line-up yet including three huge headliners, Stereophonics, Bombay Bicycle Club and Blossoms as well some of the UK’S rising stars like Jade Bird, The Lathums, Holly Humberstone and so many others.
“Thank you for sticking with us and we can’t wait to see you all there.
“One of the upsides of this unique year is the sheer amount of UK artists that will be showcased by festivals and Y Not Festival is no exception. They continue to support rising homegrown talent as well as established names.”
Stereophonics founding member Richard Jones said: “If the last time we played Y Not is anything to go by this year’s festival will be great. In 2017 the rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd who were up for a good time.
“I remember watching Slaves and Jake Bugg who were both on form. After the year everyone has been through, I’m sure it will be a memorable weekend for everyone.”
Other acts signed up include: DC, DMAS, Sleaford Mods, Frank Turner, Jake Bugg, Circa Waves, Pale Waves Sundara Karma, Kelis, The Sherlocks, Eve, Jade Bird, The Lathums, Lucy Spraggan, Terrorvision, Futureheads, The Big Moon, Dinosaur Pile Up, The Snuts, Black Honey, Dream Wife, Jaws, Vistas, Holly Humberstone, Larkins, Alfie Templeman, Porridge Radio, Sorry, Beans On Toast, The Reytons, Sigala, Nathan Dawe, Bloxx.
There will also be performances from Billie Marten, Giant Rooks, Pale White, INME, Ferocious Dog, Billy Nomates, The Orielles, The Mysterines, Liz Lawrence, King No-one, The Hara, Spinn, Lauran Hibberd, Rews, The Lancashire Hotpots, Airways, Coach Party, ZUZU, Deco, Wild Front, Lucia and The Best Boys, Pengshui, Calva Louise, Jacquard Looms, Polar States, Cucamaras, The Chase, Joey Greener, Vona Vella, Alpaca Factory, Marty, Babe Punch, Shadows Of A Silhouette, Clear Vinyl and Mr Motivator.
The festival was started by a group of former Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School pupils, who borrowed a field to accommodate a large summer house party.
It blossomed into what is now an award-winning family festival, which sees up to 25,000 people coming through its gates every year.
In 2016 the group of Ashbourne lads that had built the festival up sold it to Global Festivals but the new management was struck with bad luck from the start, with their first 2017 festival having to be cancelled mid-way through because of torrential rain.
In 2018 the festival moved to Aston Hill Farm, close to the old site of Mouldridge Lane and, in 2019, Y Not’s former parent company Count of Ten, headed up by Mr Oakley, bought the event back and promised to rethink the festival.
He said it would be “more family-focused, more organic and more local”.
Tickets are now on sale at ynotfestival. com
After a tough year for live music, there’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel.
Jason Oakley