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Hope & Glory 2017

Words: Gary Feeney

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There’s been an explosion of new festivals in recent times, but few have caught the eye quite like the Hope & Glory has.

Taking place in Liverpool’s stunning St George’s Quarter on 5^th & 6^th August, the 12,500 capacity event promises visitors a “decadent Victoriana carnival, incredible live music, art and outrageous silliness”. Sounds good to us.

Featuring a hugely impressive line-up headed by Ocean Colour Scene, James and Hacienda Classical, there’s also a plethora of exciting new talent which we’re very excited to be supporting – Popped Music will be hosting the opening acts on the main Great Exhibition Stage, with Clay featuring on Saturday and Trampolene on the Sunday, where they’ll be joined by the likes of the Fratellis and Razorlight.

As well as the Great Exhibition Stage, there’s also the rather curiously titled Lady Garden and Wonders of the Age Stages. The first day on the former has a couple of “in conversation” slots with Lucy Spraggan and Charlotte Church (who also appears on the Great Exhibition Stage with her acclaimed “Late Night Pop Dungeon” show) before closing with punk outfit Sex Pissed Dolls featuring none other than Tony Christie; the Sunday, meanwhile, sees appearances from Augustines’ singer William McCarthy and Space.

Over on Wonders of the Age Stage, the Saturday will see Dave McCabe of the Zutons playing with the Coral’s Ian Skelly, which promises to be a highlight along with headliner Starsailor, whilst the Sunday’s bill is very strong indeed with Indigo Velvet, the Blinders and the Shimmer Band being the stand-out names.

Away from the music, there will be a wide range of food and drink stalls (including a champagne tent for the more decadent attendees) as well as the opportunity to ride Penny Farthings and take part in space-hopper races which, as far as we’re aware, is a festival first. What’s not to love?

Ones To Watch

Clay

The Leeds four-piece have been bubbling just under the surface for a few years now with a batch of energetic synth-tinged singles such as Stay Calm and Sun Dance. Since those early releases, including the band have moved more towards a more electro-based sound with tracks like Saint which straddle the divide between indie and pop with a confidence and style which is sure to propel them to bigger things.

Read our exclusive interview with Clay here.

Find Clay on Facebook

Listen to Saint here:

Trampolene

Trampolene’s main man Jack Jones is probably better known) as the Libertines’ tour poet and Peter Doherty’s Puta Madres guitarist than for his own band for now, but the Welshman’s extra-curricular activities shouldn’t over-shadow his own prodigious talents. Flitting between poetry and spoken word, lilting ballads and rockers, it’s not hard to see why Doherty was attracted to Jones – the Trampolene man is something of a kindred spirit of his, a modern-day troubadour much like Peter remains to this day. One of the most unique, innovative and engaging young bands around, it’s well worth getting in early on Sunday to catch them.

Read our exclusive interview with Trampolene here.

Find Trampolene on Facebook

Listen to Beautiful Pain here:

Indigo Velvet

The Edinburgh outfit’s music has often been described elsewhere as “tropical pop”, and seems the perfect fit. Indigo Velvet are an unashamedly upbeat bunch with an already formidable catalogue of uplifting songs which borrow from the beats and riffs of Afro-Caribbean music to produce a sound which is unusual yet instantly captivating. The perfect music for a summer’s day and a cold drink, Indigo Velvet play on the Wonders of the World Stage on Sunday afternoon.

Find Indigo Velvet on Facebook

Listen to Mona here:

The Blinders

One of the most hotly-tipped bands around at the moment, the Blinders’ heavy brand of blues-rock has already gained them a sizeable fan base. With a huge sound belying the fact that there’s only three of them, the Manchester-based group’s full-on, visceral sound is loud, political and exciting in a way that not many bands dare to be these days and aren’t to be missed at Hope & Glory.

Find The Blinders on Facebook

Listen to Brave New World here: