Ian reached out to us when we spotted that “that” Newcastle gig wasn’t the first socially distanced one in the UK. He’d hosted a couple well before that and is in the process of organising a socially distanced festival for September. I’ll let him tell you the details…
I’ve been working on a (slightly) larger show, a 2 day festival with camping… Not the wisest idea to try and cobble together a new festival during a pandemic, but the council have accepted our TEN notice and the line up is booked (It was booked in 24h actually).
It’s been incredibly hard to create this in such a short space of time and to have everything 100% legal and safe.
I’ve been working on a (slightly) larger show, a 2 day festival with camping… Not the wisest idea to try and cobble together a new festival during a pandemic, but the council have accepted our TEN notice and the line up is booked (It was booked in 24h actually).This is obviously a very ambitious endeavour, but one we’re really happy to see someone having the guts to go ahead with. It has council blessings, so will be going ahead and adheres to all the current Covid regulations. The lineup is varied, featuring bands we’d likely cover regardless as well as a bunch of others. The rock/metal acts include Ryan Martin, Saints Among Us, Tides, Eddie & The Wolves, and BlackHawkDown. Full lineup details are below.
Tickets are on sale now at £20 for the weekend, including camping, or £10 for a Sunday day ticket. For more details, head for the festival’s information page.
HELSEY LANE FESTIVAL
SEPT 19 / 20
-=LINE UP=-
SATURDAY 19th Sept (Camping Exclusive Sets)
With a deep and dark acoustic sound and wide vocal range it’s not your basic acoustic performer. With influences from Myles Kennedy, Kurt Cobain, Corey Taylor, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Shaun Morgan and more you can expect a little hint of all artists.
Special Guest Band
You can check out their music… on the day!
Manchester based looper extraordinaire.
Saints Among Us (Saturday night headliners)
Saints Among Us, have consistently wowed audiences up and down the country for the best part of two years. Bringing a unique sound with hooky synth lines, guitar riffs, stunning vocals all combined into one neat package and driving force which is becoming known and loved by many.
The band have had great from BBC Introducing for Sheffield and Humberside amongst other great reviews from trusted music journalist magazines such as Northern Exposure and RGM. SAU have been compared and likened by many to bands such as Thirty Seconds to Mars, Churches, You Me At Six to name but a few.
SUNDAY 20th Sept (Site Opens At 11am)
Alternative pop rock musician, and former front man of Scorpio Promotions favourites and Nottingham Rockers The Half Eight, Ollie launched his solo project to great reviews, having had past press exposure in Nottingham uni mag The Mic, we’re very excited to have Ollie open up the Sunday of Helsey Lane Festival!
Award winning singer-songwriter from Lincolnshire, UK. Beautiful, reflective but surprisingly rocking 12 string acoustic guitar blended with raw, ionate vocals and stories about the journeys we make and the emotions we feel along the way.
15 year old Connie has already attracted national attention for her work not only solo but as part of Mad Dog Howling. Soulful lyrics and beautiful tones mixed with great guitar riffs.
Tides are a 5-piece hard rock band from Lincoln, UK. Drawing influence from major arena artists of the last few decades, and with an emphasis on composition and song-craft, they bear comparison to the likes of Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Halestorm and Muse, to name a few.
Peter Keaveney from Cleethorpes performs electric and acoustic guitar with songs that have been influenced by bands such as Muse, Blink 182 & The strokes.
Singing and playing acoustic originals and covers across a range of styles, from folk to heavy metal going past country, indie and punk on the way!
Rock & blues power-trio. A hurricane force to be reckoned with. If you’re standing at the front hold on to your beers, bags and bald caps.
BlackHawkDown brings elements of alternative metal and hard rock, into a volatile mixture that will certainly please most rock fans (JamSphere)
Direct by Ferry from the isle of white! Four punk-spirited misfits combining raw energy and catchy melodies through a multitude of genres, sounding fresh yet strangely familiar.
Chessi O’Dowd is a Warwickshire based acoustic singer songwriter. Her lyrical voice and truthful song writing is described as music with “melodic and catchy defiance”.
Chessi predominantly writes about topical issues and subjects that she is ionate which “pulls no punches”. She is a keen advocate for mental health awareness and climate change and wants to use her music to make a positive impact and a connection to her audience.
Chai 6ix (pronounced Kai six) are a six piece Nottingham based band that fuse funk, jazz, soul and blues. The band is fronted by Chai Larden, traditionally a neo-soul singer, who has worked together with her fellow band to create melodies and rhythms that are simultaneously familiar and unique. Drawing from elements from each of their different musical backgrounds, Chai 6ix have created something that pleases the eyes and ears, and begs to be danced to.
James Harriman
“Effervescent, life-affirming acoustic pop”
James Harriman brings a non-stop, high energy live persona alongside catchy choruses and strong lyrics. Taking influence from the live looped performance styles of Ed Sheeran, KT Tunstall and Beardyman James uses looping and vocal processing to create a unique and immersive performance.
