The organisers of the Stendhal Festival in Co Derry say a second line-up announcement is expected in the next few weeks.
With Turin Brakes, The Wailers and Bell X1 already booked, the celebration of arts and music in the picturesque Drumsurn area near Limavady is set to host a repeat of the varied mix of genres and acts associated with the festival.
And the promotion of local talent is set to continue again this year with the resumption of the long-established partnership with the Nerve Centre in Derry city, following a three-year covid-related hiatus.
One of the festival organisers, John Cartwright, told Belfast Live the second part of the line-up announcement should be forthcoming within weeks.
"We have a few things lined up and we're in the process of finalising some things, and we hope to make that announcement quite soon," he said.
Festival director Ross Parkhill, meanwhile, said he is thrilled with how the line-up is taking shape for the July 6-8 event.
“As usual we have a fantastic mix of genres, we have legends like The Wailers and Bell X1, some of the hottest up and coming acts from all throughout Ireland, Ivor Novello Award winners, NI Music Prize winners and there is still plenty more to come,” he said.
he Wailers, Bell X1, Newton Faulkner, The Scratch, Cara Dillon, Turin Brakes and Yazz Ahmed are at the top of the list of acts already announced, with Joshua Burnside, Roe, Sasha Samara, Fya Fox, Winnie Ama, No Oil Paintings, Red Eye Pariah and more also set to take to the Stendhal stages.
Dance and DJs are, as usual, high on the agenda with DJ sets from critically acclaimed ex-Portishead DJ Andy Smith and BBC 6 Music DJ the Fun Lovin’ Criminal himself, Huey Morgan.
The Wailers are without question our most requested act to return ever following their sensational performance at the Karma Valley Stage five years ago and we can’t wait to see them again," Mr Parkhill said.
“We are delighted to finally be welcoming a couple of acts who we have wanted to play here for years in Bell X1 and Cara Dillon. Bell X1 will be performing an exclusive all electric show for us this summer having spent quite a while touring acoustically with a string quartet so that is really exciting and of course then having the Roe Valley’s very own songbird in Cara Dillon, finally playing her home festival, will be something special indeed.
He added: “We are also so pleased to be welcoming back Turin Brakes for the first time since they headlined the event 13 years ago and we can’t wait to show them the progress that the festival has made over the years, in part thanks to them."
The resumption of the Nerve Centre partnership, meanwhile, means the 'Wooly Woodland' stage will be taken over by Youth music from the Music Hothouse Programme, Nerve centre project alumni including the likes of Glenn Rosborough, performers from the brilliant Tuned in Project, performers from the Glasgowbury music programme and also from the NACN (Newtonabbey arts and culture network).
All in all, Stendhal say 100 young performers will enjoy their very first taste of performing at a festival stage.
Martin McGill, the Music and Creative Programme Manager at the Nerve Centre, said: "We are delighted to be back on the Stendhal Festival stage. Opportunities to introduce the next generation of young talented musicians from all over Northern Ireland to the gig-going public don’t get any better than this. Bring on the summer."
Mr Parkhill added: “We are so, so pleased to be back working with the Nerve Centre at the festival this year. Our organisations have so much in common and both strive to help young musicians make their way in the music industry, so for us it is an absolute no brainer for us to get back to working together."
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