Second set of acts announced for Stendhal including The Zutons

The second set of acts has been announced for this year’s Stendhal Festival including Liverpudlian indie rock band The Zutons, most famous for top ten hits such as Valerie and Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love.

Earlier this year, Grammy award-winning band Hot Chip and Heather Small from M People were also announced as headliners for the festival which is taking place for the 14th year at the Ballymully Cottage Farm in Limavady, from July 2 to 6.

The Zutons have been a hugely popular festival act since the early 2000s, and with a brand new fourth studio album called The Big Decider just released in April, the band will hope to add a fourth UK top 10 album to their hit list and will have a raft of new songs for Stendhal alongside all the old favourites.

Also announced are rockers Fatherson, whose first album I Am An Island remains one of the finest Scottish debuts of the century, and Donegal sister trio The Henry Girls, with their blend of traditional and contemporary roots music.

Stendhal is well known for its support and showcasing of indigenous Northern Irish acts and 2024 is no different, with no fewer than 30 homegrown acts involved in this second wave of programme announcements.

Conchúr White, The Woodburning Savages, Cherym, The String Ninjas, Andy White, The Breeze, Doghouse, Esmarelda Road, Rory Nellis, Rachael O’Connor, Red Eye Pariah, Tessio, Boy M5, Balcony Sunrise, Drew Makes Noise, MÚLÚ, John Derry and the Heads, Parker, Hypnik Jerk, Polar Bolero, The Suite, Roll the Dice, Klyda, Cathal Francis, Renegade Zoo, Cellofella, Tomcat, Cooke, Elixir Hip-hop Showcase, Antidote Emcees DJ’s and Busted Seals will all be representing our brilliant home grown talent this summer.

There are also a host of brilliant acts from right around the Republic of Ireland, the UK and the rest of the world.

Deni Bonet and Chris Flynn bring their brilliant folk rock all the way from the US, the imaginative and insightful Alice Faye joins the festival from Glasgow, while Filmore and Ren Marabou and the Berserkers will travel across the border to perform.

Other musicians taking to the stage across the festival include acoustic rave pioneers The Showhawk Duo, multi award-winning folk act Ye Vagabonds, seven-time All-Ireland champion harpist Lisa Canny, indie standouts Skinny Living, Zulu Afrorave rapper Toya Delazy, and a brand-new collaboration between Pat McManus (Mama’s Boys) and Cormac Neeson (The Answer) called When Ireland Rocked.

Derry pop rockers Lavengro will also make their Stendhal debut this year, while Belfast punk is well represented by the raucous Problem Patterns.

Stendhal Festival Director Ross Parkhill said he is looking forward to welcoming all the acts, many of whom will be attending for the first time, to the event this year.

“We are obviously delighted to add The Zutons to our list of headliners for this year, they are a phenomenal live act and have loads of brilliant tunes that will radiate wonderfully around the fields,” he said.

“For us, the big excitement really comes with the indigenous acts. We have around 20 home grown acts making their Stendhal debuts this year and being able to provide them with a platform to showcase their talent to a wider audience is really what is at the heart of the festival.

“We really hope that people can come along this year and find a brand-new, home-grown act that they really resonate with and support going forward.”

“We still have a few more musical acts to announce and we will also very shortly be announcing all our family, comedy and other artistic programmes. The overall programme is taking shape very nicely and everything is looking very positive this year,” he added.

“We might even get our first pre-weekend sell out with the way tickets are going, a milestone we have been trying to reach for years, is a real possibility this year.”

For tickets and more information visit: www.stendhalfestival.com

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