Clean Bandit to headline Coventry Godiva Festival
"This year's line-up sees international superstars taking to our stages at the War Memorial Park in Coventry alongside some of the city's up and coming finest musical talent," said the authority's deputy leader, Abdul Salam Khan.Other acts featuring across the weekend include Coventry music legend and co- founder of The Specials, Neville Staple.Also performing are synth-pop band, Heaven 17 and M People lead vocalist, Heather Small.
Dance group Diversity will return after performing at the event in 2023.A second stage, called the Cov Stage, will host local talent throughout the event.There will also be a Family Field, which will host live entertainment and interactive activities."As always, our line-up is diverse and covers a broad range of genres. We have something for everyone - there's music, performers, activities and outdoor entertainment," continued Mr Khan."By coming along and enjoying what's on offer, you're playing a vital role in securing its future at a time when festivals across the UK are facing challenges."
Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Doune festival supremo praises "heart-warming" response as revamped event looms
Brian Harkin - who is the man behind Back Doune the Rabbit Hole - has praised the response from music fans and locals as the countdown to next week's festival ticks on. The brains behind the revamped Back Doune the Rabbit Hole admits it has been a 'long road' back for the once-famous festival - but the excitement is building as the event takes shape. The festival takes place back at the Cardross Estate near Port of Menteith from August 1-3, with new ownership after the previous event collapsed amid controversial circumstances. Helensburgh businessman and musician Brian Harkin has been busy at the festival site coordinating the various stages and amenities as the final preparations kick into gear. Speaking to the Observer this week, he reflected on the support offered by both music fans online and the local community - as well as the body blow of headliners The Fratellis being forced to pull out after the third-party promoters in charge of their booking fell into liquidation. He said: 'We're all buzzing for things to get underway and everyone involved within the local community has been so friendly and supportive which is a really heart-warming thing. 'The build hasn't been without its issues because of the problems with the previous event, but it feels as if we've surpassed that. 'The ticket sales so far have been very good and as good as we expected them to be. 'We kept the brand of Doune The Rabbit Hole because it was much-loved for some time, while recognising how things were handled previously were obviously questionable and not done very well at all, to say the least. 'I know a lot of people who came to this festival before - all of my kids have been for example - and it saddens me that it all got so tarnished, but I know there is a lot of excitement about next week.' The line-up includes some big beasts in the music world, such as Liverpool indie favourites The Zutons, who top the bill on the Sunday evening, and Marc Almond - who headlines on Friday. Scouting for Girls, the Bay City Rollers, The Skids and Newton Faulkner will also be performing. But the Saturday evening showcase was forced to be changed after third-party promoter Wannasee Ltd entered financial trouble - leading to the 'Chelsea Dagger'-hitmakers cancelling four planned summer appearances - including at BDTRH. That spot has been filled by legendary space rockers Hawkwind, with the London group set to delight fans in attendance with a blend of styles from the progressive to the psychedelic. 'Getting Hawkwind in as a legends set was a bit of a blinder for us,' Mr Harkin adds. 'They're on fire at the moment and since it's been about 35 years since I've seen them live, I've told the team that I'll be tapping out when that set is on, although I won't be able to enjoy a pint. 'The first I knew on the Fratellis situation was straight after the liquidation was announced and it was an awful hurdle to overcome for us. 'We were injured by the Wannasee liquidation, just the same as the promoters and a long line of suppliers. 'Being honest, my heart sunk at that point but the online community really rallied behind us and our social team were really honest with the statement we put out and pointing out that we were victims and it wasn't anything to do with us.' As those dramas are finally put in the rear view mirror and the countdown ticking away, Mr Harkin is promising a return to the warm vibe associated with the Doune festival in the past. 'It's all about the family-friendly vibe and the programme we have on site for people is amazing. 'It will be a great event for those coming along - I've got a large family myself and all of my kids and grandkids are coming along, they've been buzzing about it as much as me!'
BBC News
14-07-2025
- BBC News
Energetic Coventry interpreter's passion for making music accessible
A British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter hailed for her energetic performances at Eurovision and Glastonbury has said she just wants to make music accessible to deaf Edwards from Coventry shot to social media fame when her flamboyant moves attracted the audience's Edwards, who calls herself the Purple Interpreter and wears outfits to match the name, has already interpreted for Clean Bandit, Guns N' Roses, Stevie Wonder and Glastonbury headliner Olivia Rodrigo this summer said "hours and hours" of preparation went into her performances, and it was "all about listening to the music and working out what the vibe is". Ms Edwards said she had "always wanted to work in the theatre" and studied arts music and drama at started signing in the theatre and said she still did a lot of work there, including at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Globe Theatre and the Albany Theatre, close to her said she could not remember how the offers of work from the music industry started, but it came through reputation and word-of-mouth. Her interpretation of the music takes a lot of thought and she said: "The point of it is to convey the whole sense of the sound. How can I convey that with my body?"That meant her performances were planned to match the feel of the music, but her style is her own."That's just me, that's just how I am," she also said she used every moment she had to practice and often found herself "giving it large" while she was stuck in working with some big names, she said she often did not meet the stars themselves, but "absolutely had the best time".There have been calls on social media for her represent the UK at Eurovision next year, which Ms Edwards said were "ridiculous".She said her job was not about the fame and explained: "It's about deaf people watching the programme, getting the access and being able to enjoy it on a par with their hearing colleagues, friends and family." Rita Bagga and Jayne Main from Coventry are both deaf and have been friends since primary school. Ms Bagga had never been to a festival, however with the help of Ms Edwards she recently attended the city's Godiva festival, where alongside her lifelong friend, she experienced her first taste of live Edwards signed while Heather Small sang her classic single "Proud" out to the crowd, Ms Bagga said the interpretation enabled her to connect with what was happening on the stage."It's just amazing," she signed, "I can see the music". Amy Mace from Northampton said Ms Edward's had helped her to enjoy Birmingham Pride earlier this year."I was in floods of tears," she signed. "Finally I had access and I understood the music, I understood the drag queens and their Mace added that she felt "so included" and equal to a hearing person. Julia, 16, a death metal fan from the city, has cochlear implants that help her hear some music, especially when it has a good beat, but she agrees that BSL interpreters were a good thing for the deaf community as a Bagga added that without signing from Ms Edwards, music "doesn't mean anything" to her. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- BBC News
Godiva Festival 'a must' for The Specials' Neville Staple
"I love being on stage and I had to do Coventry."Despite serious health concerns, there was no way The Specials' Neville Staple was going to miss playing the city's Godiva one of the founders of the legendary ska revivalists, has been told he can only play five gigs a year, after having to cancel several gigs and festival sets last year when he was diagnosed with a serious heart Godiva performance on Saturday saw him back in the city where The Specials first took to the stage after forming in 1977. "I've missed being on stage so much," Staple told BBC CWR, explaining that after discussions with his wife and his doctor he accepted he had to cut back on wife and fellow musician Christine "Sugary" Staple knew his heart was immediately set on playing Godiva, where she also played in the band's line-up."He said I've got to do Coventry – out of the five [shows], Coventry is a must," she said. The three-day Godiva festival, which showcases local acts as well as famous bands, will end later with a headline set from Ocean Colour Specials were at the forefront of the 2 Tone movement that started in Coventry in the late 1970s, quickly gaining national acclaim. The genre blended Jamaican reggae, ska, and British punk with the likes of The Beat, The Selecter and Madness, the band captured the mood of the late 1970s, when future prospects for young people looked bleak. Now firmly fixed in Coventry's cultural heritage, 2 Tone continues to inspire successive generations, with tributes posted across the city when The Specials' frontman Terry Hall died in of Hall's piano's has been on display at Godiva this year, alongside a stall from Tonic Music for Mental Health, a charity he supported. "Sugary" Staple described the gig as "a homecoming" and added that "we love Godiva, we've got history at Godiva."The couple have also been involved with anti-knife crime campaigning in recent years, after their grandson Fidel Glasgow was fatally stabbed in Coventry in Saturday, Staple's message to people in the city was: "Stay positive, love one another, and put away those knives." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
