T in the Park festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager have added the legendary Paul Weller, hugely influential Wilko Johnson, seminal soul group Soul II Soul and The Amazing Snakeheads to the bill.
Earl Sweatshirt, Wilkinson, Charli XCX, King Charles, Darlia, The LaFontaines, Becky Hill, Jess Glynne, The Minutes, Hudson Taylor, Neon Jungle, Lonely the Brave, Dolomite Minor and Little Matador will also play the festival which takes place over 11th-13th July.
Paul Weller is a true icon. From The Jam, through to the Style Council, to his hugely acclaimed solo material, he has been a towering figure in British music for decades. Revered by generations of music fans, The Modfather has an illustrious history with T in the Park, having headlined the festival’s second year (1995) as well as the first ever T in the Park to be held in Balado in 1997. He played a now legendary duet with Noel Gallagher in 2001, after Noel – who was visiting T in the Park as a guest – joined him on stage for an impromptu acoustic set of The Jam classics which has gone down in T in the Park history. Making a long-awaited return for the first time in 8 years, he’s sure to receive a rapturous response.
One of Weller’s own musical heroes – the legendary Wilko Johnson – has also been added to the T in the Park bill. Weller famously said of the former Dr Feelgood guitarist (and one time member of Ian Dury and The Blockheads): “Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he’s right up there. And there are a lot of people who’ll say the same. I can hear Wilko in lots of places. It’s some legacy.” Johnson and Dr Feelgood have been credited as one of the founding influences of the English punk movement, and have counted Weller, John Lydon, Joe Strummer and The Stranglers as fans. He recently appeared in HBO’s Game of Thrones as mute executioner Ilyn Payne, and this year has seen him team up with The Who’s Roger Daltrey on the highly acclaimed joint album Going Back Home.
Starting life as a sound system at Covent Garden’s Africa Centre, Soul II Soul made a huge impact in the late 1980s with their original, fresh, and infectious soul sound. Hits such as Keep On Movin’ and the Grammy-winning Back To Life made them household names all over the world, and to date they’ve sold over 10 million albums in over 35 countries worldwide. Their T in the Park appearance forms part of the seminal group’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Hailing from Glasgow, The Amazing Snakeheads are renowned for their exhilarating live performances and energy, and will showcase material from their debut album Amphetamine Ballads.
Geoff Ellis, Festival Director, said: “Paul Weller is a true icon of British music and is a huge favourite with T in the Park fans, having played many a memorable set throughout the festival’s 21 year history, including headlining our second outing in 1995, and then the first festival to be held at Balado in 1997, not to mention his historic performance with Noel Gallagher in 2001. When Wilko Johnson takes to the stage I think it’ll be a very special moment – he’s had a seminal influence on the country’s music scene, and is one of Weller’s own heroes. Soul II Soul were similarly groundbreaking when they rose to prominence in the 80s, and their set will be pretty spectacular also. Plus we’re delighted to be bringing some of the most hotly tipped new breakthrough acts to this year’s festival too – there’s a lot of buzz about these acts right now, and many will be making their T in the Park debut this summer, so they’re definitely ones to watch.”
George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship, Tennent’s Lager, said: “Paul Weller’s previous T in the Park appearances feature prominently in my own personal highlights from the festival over the years, and it’ll be fantastic to see him return to Balado. He’s just one of a host of great new acts announced today – it’s truly shaping up to be a phenomenal weekend and we’re exceptionally proud to be the founding partner of this wonderful festival.”
Tickets are on-sale now and available here.
