exclusive: Jools Holland to headline Wickham Festival

eFestivals can exclusively reveal that Jools Holland and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will headline the opening night of the Wickham Festival.

Making his debut appearance and topping the bill at the Hampshire bash on Thursday 4th August Jools Holland and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will be joined by special guests Ruby Turner, and Sandie Shaw.

Also confirmed for Wickham is a first appearance for the Digital Funfair which will join other attractions such as The Groovy Movie solar-powered cinema tent, and the Hand To Mouth Street Theatre Company in providing entertainment around the festival site.

The 5,000 capacity Festival has also received a boost with local authority licensing officers agreeing to a later finish for the festival, meaning main stage concerts can continue until 11.30pm on all four nights of the Festival this year with a new Late Night Festival Club continuing with live bands until 1am.

Jools and friends join a line-up that includes Rolf Harris, Bellowhead, Kate Rusby, The Peatbog Faeries, Richard Thompson, John Otway Big Band, The Kathryn Tickell Band, Toyah, Mary Coughlan, Jackie Leven, Eddi Reader, Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers, Coast, Lori Watson & Rule of Three, The Chair (from Orkney), Saltfishforty with Spiers & Boden, Skerryvore, Tim Edey & Brendan Power, Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, The Treacherous Orchestra, The Outcast Band, No Right Turn, Maurice Dickson (from Ireland), Roy Bailey & Tony Benn, The Martin Simpson Band, The Men They Couldn't Hang, The Spooky Mens Chorale, Kan, and The Shee. For the line-up details, and day splits, as available please click here.

The festival returns to the Hampshire village of Wickham, in Hampshire just east of Eastleigh and just north of Fareham.

This four-day event happens from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th August 2011 and features live music and entertainment for all ages with camping. They'll be two performance stages plus a sessions bar, street theatre and dance displays, and lots of fun for kids.

Due to the recent confirmation of both Jools Holland and Rolf Harris to headline the Festival, the deadline for cheap-rate 'Earlybird' weekend season tickets (saving £20 per adult ticket) has been extended to Easter Saturday (23rd April). 4-Day adult season tickets bought by post from the Festival Office are just £100 if purchased before Easter (£120 thereafter) with under-16s being half-price and under-10s free. Camping tickets are priced at £25 per tent or caravan for the whole weekend. Day Tickets are also available priced at £40, with under 16s day tickets are half price, and under-10s are free.

To buy tickets, click here.

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