Black Country Communion, Jethro Tull, Spock's Beard & More Confirmed For High Voltage Festival 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Written by Jon Stickler
Following the launch of the UK’s new prestige rock festival, in 2010, High Voltage returns in 2011 with exclusive performances from headliners Judas Priest and Dream Theater. The further acts announced are:
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION (Main Stage, Sunday) – UK festival exclusive
is the heavy rock supergroup featuring Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) on vocals and bass, Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin) on drums, Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) on keyboards, and Joe Bonamassa (the blues-rock solo star) on guitar and vocals. The band released its debut album in 2010 to widespread critical acclaim and are set to release the follow up in June 2011. Both Bonamassa and Hughes appeared at the inaugural High Voltage festival last year, with Hughes singing for Heaven & Hell in tribute to his late friend, Ronnie James Dio.
JETHRO TULL (Prog Stage) – 2011 UK exclusive performance
Jethro Tull are a truly legendary progressive rock group and one of the biggest selling British rock acts of all time, with worldwide sales exceeding 60 million. Led by charismatic singer and flute player Ian Anderson and guitarist Martin Barre – who have steered the band together for more than 40 years – Tull built their reputation with such landmark albums as Aqualung, Thick As A Brick and Songs From The Wood. Their headlining appearance on the Prog Stage will be Tull’s only UK show of 2011.
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (Main Stage)
Led by the legendary guitar hero who made his name in the 1970s with two iconic bands – Britain’s UFO and Germany’s Scorpions. MSG celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2010, when Michael also won the Marshall ‘11’ Award at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour.
SPOCK’S BEARD (Prog Stage) – UK festival exclusive
Spock’s Beard have been standard bearers for progressive rock since the early 90s, when they formed in Los Angeles at the height of the grunge era. The band has stuck to its guns ever since, and recently released its tenth album X, described by Classic Rock magazine as reminiscent of classic Yes and Genesis.
CARAVAN (Prog Stage)
Cult heroes of British progressive rock, Caravan formed in 1968, the band is best known for its 1971 album In The Land Of Grey And Pink (acclaimed by allmusic.com as a work of “ethereal brilliance”). After a lengthy hiatus in the 80s, Caravan was resurrected by founding members Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. The 2010 box set The World Is Yours confirmed their status as one of the classic prog bands.
THE ENID (Prog stage) are one of the most innovative of all English rock groups – once compared in the same sentence to Pink Floyd, The Orb and the Berlin Philharmonic. Formed in 1974 and now featuring founder members Robert John Godfrey and Dave Storey in a new line-up, The Enid continue to make music with “no generic limitations”.
PALLAS (Prog stage)
Formed in Aberdeen and rose to prominence in the early ’80s as leaders of a new wave of progressive rock music alongside Marillion, IQ and Twelfth Night. The new Pallas album XXV is released in January 2011 – and in the classic prog tradition, it’s a concept album.
MOSTLY AUTUMN (Prog Stage)
One of the UK’s leading modern progressive rock acts. Their ninth album Go Well Diamond Heart was released in 2010 and marks the beginning of a new era for the band, now fronted by former backing vocalist Olivia Sparnenn. The verdict from Classic Rock on the new-look Mostly Autumn: “The band’s time has surely come!”
High Voltage is much more than just the bands. High Voltage 2011 will see Ace Café & Rockers and also an exclusive Evel Knievel exhibition “The True Evel Exhibtion” with many more onsite attractions to be announced…
High Voltage is the festival all true rock fans have been waiting for – custom built by rock fans for rock fans. The High Voltage team has been to every rock festival imaginable – taking what they have learned to build a festival unlike any other.
First of all there’s the music: Amazing headliners AND three unique stages specially curated to cater for different sides of the rock audience, and a brilliant supporting cast playing special must-see sets. Then there’s the festival itself. The facilities will be second to none: great food, proper beer, clean toilets and deluxe hospitality packages. This is somewhere you take the whole family.
High Voltage offers a new and unique festival experience for rock fans of all ages. Only High Voltage gives ticket buyers the freedom to design their own bespoke festival package – which can include accommodation, transport and VIP entertainment.
Tickets priced £99 (for weekend tickets) and £56.50 (for day tickets) – subject to booking fee. VIP tickets will be available at £105.00 for the day, £199.00 for the weekend – subject to booking fee. There will also be various VIP and hotel packages available, at varying price levels to suit.
High Voltage are also pleased to announce the new deposit scheme. This applies to any weekend ticket (i.e VIP weekend or standard weekend) and allows customers to spread the cost of the ticket over 2 payments. General Admission and VIP weekend tickets can be purchased with an initial £50 deposit plus booking fee, with the final payment due on June 1st. More info can be found at www.highvoltagefestival.com/tickets/deposit-scheme
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