Line-up revealed for celebration of Lancaster University's glory era of rock and pop

The lineup has been revealed for a historic weekend of music celebrating Lancaster University's rock and pop legacy.

To celebrate the huge names of rock who once performed on stage at the university's Great Hall, there will be a series of events including a concert featuring rock acts for the first time since those glory days.

A Night at the Great Hall: A Celebration of the Lancaster Music Scene in Words and Music, will be held on Saturday March 16.

The event will begin with a live interview with Barry Lucas – the former university entertainments manager responsible for turning Lancaster University into one of the great gig venues of the 1970s and 1980s – followed by performances by five contemporary rock and pop artists.

Barry – who was a Lancaster student  – will be in conversation with Andrew Barker.

They will be reminiscing and telling the ‘behind-the-scenes’ stories of concerts by likes of The Who, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Queen, Pink Floyd and U2.

Signed copies of the third edition of Barry’s book, 'When Rock Went to College: Legends Live at Lancaster University, 1969-1985', will also be on sale. Barry is pictured below with co-author Paul Tomlinson.

Afterwards, there will be a line-up of rock, pop, electronic and jazz acts, organised by Lancaster Music Co-operative, playing the venue to celebrate the vibrant and contemporary Lancaster music scene.

This will feature Field Lines Cartographer, Hawkmen Dive; Maja Bugge and Dave Shooter, and Good Boy Nikko.

Beyond Radio exclusively announced news of this event when Barry Lucas appeared on The Resident radio show in January.

Read more: INTERVIEW: Rock music returns to Lancaster University Great Hall at event celebrating legendary concerts - Beyond Radio

“Lancaster University played an enormous part in the rock and pop culture of the north-west throughout the 1970s and 1980s," said Andrew Barker, Director of Library Services and Learning Development at the university.

"Talk to anyone who was a student at that time or grew up in the area and within minutes they’ll be telling you who they saw play the Great Hall.

“This event pays tribute to those days and how important they were to the cultural development and vibrancy of our university campus. Although the big groups are no longer playing, there remains a vibrant music scene in Lancaster to be celebrated and at this event we will hear from four artists who represent the present and the future.

“My hopes are that people who spent so much time seeing the classic acts of the 1970s and 1980s come back to remember and hear about those days from Barry Lucas, the man who started it all – and that they and many others too young to have been at the Great hall then stay to enjoy a new generation of Lancaster-based musicians as we celebrate the past and reignite the possibilities of the future.”

There will also be street food and merchandise stalls, as well as a fully stocked bar.

Tickets give you access to the whole event, including Q and A and live music. It runs from 5.30pm until late.

Tickets can be booked in advance here.