Damon Albarn, the lead singer with the bands Blur and Gorillaz, will headline this year’s Honeyfest pop festival, near Marlborough, playing a set which will consist of songs from his opera Doctor Dee.
The opera debuted last summer as part of the Manchester International Festival and received considerable praise from critics, and the opera will move to London this summer. Its plot details the life of 16th century scientist John Dee.
Albarn will perform the songs, along with some of the musicians who performed in the show, at Honeyfest billed as the first music festival of the summer season – which takes place on Saturday, April 14 in Tumuli Field in Rockley.
Also confirmed to appear at the event are BBC Sound Of 2012 nominees Dry The River, Rae Morris, Nick Harper, Cut A Shine and Kidnap Alice, along with Salisbury-based six-piece indie acoustic band The Gallant Tailors, and folk singer Maria Byrne, who won their slots at a Battle of the Bands competition at the Bouverie Hall in Pewsey last night (Friday).
For more information about Honeyfest, visit Honeyfestuk.com
In related news, Dry the River will be playing live in Marlborough on Saturday, March 3 in support of their debut album, Shallow Bed, which is officially released two days later.
The band will be playing from 7pm at Azuza, and will be signing copies of their album at neighbouring record store Sound Knowledge following the concert.
The London five-piece last played in Marlborough, at one of the Sound Knowledge live PAs, back in November to an enthusiastic crowd.
Free tickets can be booked through the Sound Knowledge Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sound-Knowledge/108109829223506