Seasick Steve Joins Line-Up For Strummer Of Love Festival
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Written by Jon Stickler
Cult blues musician Seasick Steve is set to join the already outstanding line-up for this year’s Strummer of Love festival taking place in Somerset on the weekend of 17th-19th August. The one-off event will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of iconic Clash frontman Joe Strummer.
Having sold out scores of venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo and Brixton O2 Academy, Seasick Steve will be joining an already impressive line-up including the Pogues, Frank Turner and Emmy the Great.
Renowned for his growling vocals and use of customised instruments - including a battered three-string guitar, diddley bow, stomp box and various handmade contraptions - Steve is the natural choice and a perfect addition to the bill.
In addition, dance music pioneers Basement Jaxx will be performing an unseen and exclusive DJ set which promises to be one of the highlights of the festival. Classic dancehall and reggae DJ David Rodigan will make sure the whole site gets up and moving whilst DJ Scratchy, who rode on tour with the Clash, will be bringing an element of ’76 energy to the proceedings.
Adding to the festivities, Rootikal, London’s foremost roots reggae night, will be taking control of the Johnny Appleseed stage on Sunday 19th August. Having the full stage for the day will give selected artists an opportunity to shine at the festival. Bands confirmed include the Twinkle Brothers, Talisman and Joshua Moses. It’s not all about revival artists however, as they come bang up to date with a full Roots Manuva live show, to merge the dub, the hip hop and the bass.
Frank Turner quoted: "The Clash to me are the archetypal punk band, they laid the blueprint for pretty much everything that has followed. I never met Joe but he's that unusual thing - an iconic figure who was also completely on a level, not aloof. The Strummerville guys are friends and collaborators of mine and it was a no-brainer for me to play the festival."
In honour of Strummer’s worldviews, proceeds from the festival will benefit the work of the charity Strummerville: The Joe Strummer New Music Foundation, which was set up in the singer’s memory by his friends and family following his untimely death.
Since its 2003 inception, Strummerville has stayed true to Joe’s reputation as a rallying point and motivational icon by driving a host of projects that provide invaluable opportunities for musical creativity to thrive.
Strummerville's work comes in many forms, from helping bands to record and release music to providing rehearsal spaces for aspiring artists. Strummerville studios can be found at the roundhouse and under the Westway in London, in Belfast and in Bogotá. The main aim of the charity is to give opportunities to people through music who wouldn’t usually have access to such opportunities.
Faithful to the spirit of Strummer’s diverse life and career - as hippy era festival-goer, folk troubadour, family man, globally feted punk icon and world music explorer - it will be an occasion to savour, leaving behind a plan of action after the partying is over.
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