This summer Lunar Festival returns for its third year to the enchanting rural setting of Tanworth in Arden, resting place of Nick Drake, and now home to an established magical odyssey which likes to do things just a little bit differently.
Following on from 2015’s breakthrough year, this June’s Lunar is maturing into a wondrous experience across one weekend of magic, set in a rural idyll close to the beating heart of the Midlands yet a world away from the hustle and bustle of reality; inspiring, edifying and a little bit different, Lunar is a refreshing vision of what a festival should be like.
Featuring daytime bands, rousing evening shows and late night beats entwined with guitar driven sounds, there’s a mythical ethos to Lunar blooming from spiritual exploration and adventure. Lunar encapsulates a unique energy which pulsates from the stunning countryside location in which it is set, a sublime weekend which joins the dots across a soundscape of live artists and DJs, and the festival is incredibly proud to announce its first round of acts.
Lunar is bringing a wildly diverse range of artists to perform, from true legends and icons to the new wave of names set to shine. Since their Fuzzy Logic debut album 1996, the Welsh psychedelic rock and electronic experimentalists Super Furry Animals have carved a warped niche in the UK’s left-of-centre scene. And speaking of venerable, Mercury Rev have over a quarter of century of music behind them, their 90s rock finding its place in the present from the New York outfit. The band Television have a devout following worldwide and had a major effect on British post-punk rock as well as American indie rock. And Badly Drawn Boy, with his Mercury-prize winning debut ‘The Hour Of Bewilderbeast’, brings his raw lyrical power to Lunar, suffused with his Mancunian humour and charm.
The Zombies are a the Psych-oriented group that formed in St. Albans in 1961, and released their latest album Still Got That Hunger last year; with almost 50 years behind them, their cult following continues to this day and shows no sign of abating. Os Mutantes bring their own special cult Brazilian Tropicália and psych-pop to Lunar, whilst Matt Berry and The Maypoles weave their culturally eccentric prog-rock and folk together. Bentley Rhythm Ace are the iconic Birmingham electronic outfit crafting big beat to electro rock from the 90s era of dance floor magic.
Ibibio Sound Machine blend African and electronic elements inspired by the golden era of West-African funk & disco and modern post-punk & electro, whist Stealing Sheep’s eccentric electronica – with shades of Morris Dancing – are a quintessentially psychedelic Scouse pop band. Fellow Liverpudlian Bill Ryder Jones has been inspired by genius of Italo Calvino and is an ex member of The Coral; the Arctic Monkeys collaborator is a melancholic wordsmith and musician of great repute. And with her debut album set to drop this spring, Amber Arcade’s floating pop melodies will entrance Lunar.
Further guests revealed include Bangkok Paradise Molam International Band, Martin Carthy, Alessi’s Ark, The Mariachi’s, Josefin Orhn + The Liberation, Victories At Sea, Stick In The Wheel, Ashley Hutchings, Seeland, Table Scraps, Flamingods and The Good Water, Tales of HP Lovecraft and more to be revealed.
Lunar is musically diverse with something for all the family featuring a vibrant range of arts, crafts, activities and games complemented by delicious artisan food and drink from across the region. There is wide range of camping and accommodation options including Bell Tent and Tipi hire, gypsy bow top caravans and local hotels.
Lunar Festival
Fri 3rd – Sun 5th June 2016
Umberslade Farm Park, Butts Ln, Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire B94 5AE
Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev, Television, Badly Drawn Boy, The Zombies, Os Mutantes, Matt Berry and The Maypoles, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Ibibio Sound Machine, Bill Ryder Jones, Amber Arcades, Bangkok Paradise Molam International Band, Martin Carthy, Alessi’s Ark, The Mariachi’s, Josefin Orhn + The Liberation, Victories At Sea, Stick In The Wheel, Ashley Hutchings, Seeland, Table Scraps, Flamingods and The Good Water, Tales of HP Lovecraft with more to be revealed.
Adults from £115 for the weekend/£45 per day. Children (12-15) tickets £42 for the weekend/£19 per day. Children under 12 £5
www.lunarfestival.co.uk / Twitter: @lunar_festival