GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL HOSTS FREE UNDERGROUND FESTIVAL
After being short-listed in NME’s search for Britain’s Best Small Venue, Gloucester Guildhall has decided to celebrate this accolade by making their annual Underground Festival a free event. In the spirit of bringing the best unsigned and emerging bands to Gloucester, the Guildhall hopes that this bold decision will help to provide a platform for new music in Gloucester, putting the city even more firmly on the map, as well as sharing that music with as many people as possible. Dedicated to bringing the best up-and-coming national talent to the city for the weekend, this year’s festival promises to be better than ever, with a line-up to rival more established festivals such as Dot to Dot in Bristol and The Great Escape in Brighton.
Acts announced so far include Main Stage Saturday headliners, Essex five-piece Morning Parade, who are being lauded as the next big British guitar band, and second stage headliners Trophy Wife. Headlining the main stage on Sunday is Francesqa, supported by Blitz Kids, both of whom were nominated in the Best British Newcomer category of the 2011 Kerrang! Awards last month. In an addition to last year’s festival, Gloucester Guildhall have teamed up with BBC Introducing, meaning that a larger number of local bands will be given the chance to perform via the BBC Introducing Stage in the Guildhall Cinema. Local bands who would like the chance to appear at the Underground Festival should submit their music to BBC Radio Gloucestershire via the BBC Introducing uploader, which can be found on the BBC Introducing website.
Organiser Joe Schiavon said of the decision, “The NME nomination showed us that people in Gloucester obviously care about the venue, as well as music as a whole, so we thought we’d give them an opportunity to experience as many exciting breakthrough artists over the course of a weekend as possible. Obviously being nominated for such a huge award was a massive achievement for us and we are really indebted to everyone who voted. This seemed like the ideal way to give something back and say thank you for all the support we’ve received.”
Free tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis on both days of the festival and demand is expected to be high so festival-goers are being advised to turn up early! For the full line-up so far and more details about the festival, which takes place on September 24 and 25, visit the website at www.undergroundfestival.co.uk
