The countdown to Highest Point is on

Monday, 9 May 2022 06:00

Some of the UK’s biggest music stars are coming to Lancaster this week, with the Highest Point Festival just days away.

Starting on Thursday, tens of thousands of revellers will flock to the city to see Richard Ashcroft, Kaiser Chiefs and Clean Bandit headline the four-day event at Williamson Park, which ends with a Big Family Fun Day, hosted by Beyond Radio.

Richard Ashcroft, former front man of The Verve, is the headline act on Thursday.

From his acclaimed solo work, including latest album, ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’, visitors can also expect to hear classic tracks from his time as frontman of legendary band, The Verve, including songs such as ‘Bittersweet Symphony’, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Lucky Man’ and ‘Sonnet’.

He’ll be supported by Reverend and The Makers and The Lottery Winners.

Headlining on the Friday night will be UK chart-toppers and Grammy award winners Clean Bandit.

Clean Bandit burst onto the music scene in 2014 with their Number 1 hit 'Rather Be' featuring Jess Glynne on vocals, which in 2015 won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.

The pop/classical music giants followed this up with further number ones 'Rockabye' (with Anne-Marie), 'Symphony' (with Zara Larsson) and 'Solo' with Demi Lovato.

The full band - Grace Chatto, Jack Patterson and Luke Patterson - will headline on the Main Stage on Friday night, May 13, after debuting at Highest Point last year with a DJ set.

Kaiser Chiefs, fronted by Ricky Wilson, will perform at the Williamson Park event on Saturday.

The popular Leeds band are famed for a string of UK hits including the 2007 number one 'Ruby', as well as 'I Predict a Riot', 'Oh My God' and 'Every Day I Love You Less and Less'.

They have also achieved two number one albums with 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' in 2007 and 'Education, Education, Education & War' in 2014, as well as a number two with their breakthrough 2005 album 'Employment'.

Other major names announced include Example and Sigala.

Singer and rapper Example achieved number one singles in 2011 with 'Changed the Way You Kiss Me' and 'Stay Awake', and a number one album with 'Playing in the Shadows'. His other hits include 'Kickstarts', 'Won't Go Quietly' and 'We'll Be Coming Back' (with Calvin Harris).

Sigala, real name Bruce Fielder, scored a 2015 UK number one hit with 'Easy Love', which sampled the Jackson 5's 'ABC'.

He went on to have Top 10 hits with 'Sweet Lovin' (featuring Bryn Christopher), 'Came Here for Love' (featuring Ella Eyre) and 'Say You Do' (featuring Imani and DJ Fresh).

The legendary DJ Judge Jules, Sheffield indie band Reverend and the Makers (best-known for their 2007 Top 10 hit 'Heavyweight Champion of the World') and Basement Jaxx, who will perform a DJ set, are also part of this year's festival.

Mimi Webb, who had a Top 10 hit in 2021 with 'Good Without', will also appear, as will Brit award nominated Not3S and Lancaster band LOWES.

Also announced are Mae Muller, The Cuban Bros, Lyra, The Lottery Winners, DJ Matt Thiss from Morecambe, Low Steppa, The Sherlocks, Horse Meat Disco, SASASAS, Shy FX, Sub Focus, Turno, Emily Nash, Luke Una, Charlie Tee, Escape Classics, Mr Wilson's Second Liners, 80s v 90s and Funkademia.

The Big Family Day Out will return as part of Highest Point Festival on Sunday.

The family fun day will close the 2022 festival in Williamson Park on Sunday, May 15, and will include live music, disco, food, arts and crafts, butterflies, animals and lots more.

The event will run from 10am until 5pm, with last entry at 3pm.

We can’t wait!