Just weeks remain before the return of a hotly-anticipated music festival which will take over a village near Burton and Uttoxeter.
Dovefest 2017 is set to take place at Doveridge’s Sand Lane playing fields on Saturday, July 22, with some top musical talent taking to a massive marquee stage to play in front of thousands of passionate fans.
Bands will also perform on the Gavin Clark stage – dedicated to the revered Staffordshire singer-songwriter – in Doveridge Club, neighbouring the main field.
Acoustic acts will provide a more chilled-out option on a special outdoor stage at the Cavendish Arms.
Headlining the main stage will be the returning JJ Rosa, who has played twice before at the annual festival.
She will provide her trademark soulful vocals and smooth guitar licks in a style that has been compared to diminutive pop legend Prince.
Former Jim Jones Revue boogie woogie piano maestro will play main support. His presence at Dovefest is quite a coup for organisers as he blazes his own trail as a solo artist.
Alternative indie-dance trio Borgais are another new addition to this year’s roster.
Their style has been described as somewhere between Kasabian, Massive Attack and the Happy Mondays.
Vinny Perculiar, a solo artist who has performed with members of top bands including Oasis, The Smiths and The Fall, will play tunes from his new concept album.
Silver Meadows, based on his time as a psychiatric nurse, follows the story of a fictional mental health hospital.
Popular Uttoxeter area acts Judge Fudge, The Shelter, the Vice-Bishops and Big Stone Gap will also perform on the Main Stage, along with alternative indie act Luna Rosa.
The Gavin Clark stage will showcase top indie bands from across the UK, as well as singer-songwriter Ashley McGovern, who will open proceedings on the Doveridge Club stage. Indie-folk performers 5 Hills Out will be next on stage.
The five-piece band combine accordion, saxophone, guitars, mandola, bass and drums into their passionate and crafted sound. Stripped down acoustic arrangements sit alongside driven punk anthems.
Patchwork Rattlebag will return after a successful set on the Gavin Clark stage back in 2015.
The trio’s innovative music combines indie and electronica to provide a dark but energetic sound.
Manchester Evening News described them as “the city’s new indie kings”.
Garage punk outfit Cyclone Eddie, a well-known act from Uttoxeter’s historic music circuit, will bring their customary mayhem to proceedings.
Two Stoke-on-Trent-based acts will be next up, with The Torch bringing influences including Velvet Underground, The Smiths and The Stooges.
Guitar-led indie-rock band The Skirr will headline the Gavin Clark Stage after performing on the main stage back in 2014.
Moore and Moore Beer, Unbound, Joe Bayliss, Toftie and Bennett, Dapper Dawgs, Rabble Rousers, Tony and Jaxx, Acoustic Anarchy and Temple Hudson will perform on the acoustic stage.
The headliners have become well-known for their cautionary tales about power tools and hilarious Black Country zombie song.
The one-day free festival will from noon to 11pm. More information is available online here
