The full line-up for the 2021 edition of Splendour Festival has now been revealed! With just under 2 months to go, organisers are delighted to confirm a whole wave of new acts to play across the five stages, including pop superstar Melanie C and two-tone legends The Selecter.
They join already confirmed headliners Richard Ashcroft and Supergrass, as well as The Vamps, Becky Hill and Sleeper, making 2021’s line-up an eclectic mix of exciting new acts and established heavy hitters.
The start of Melanie C’s career really needs no explanation at all, as it is rather well documented. After the iconic 1996 debut single ‘Wannabe’ topped the charts in 37 countries, Spice Girls’ debut album ’Spice’ went on to sell more than 31 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album of all time by a female group. Launching her solo career with huge hit ‘When You’re Gone’ with Bryan Adams, Melanie C firmly established herself as a talent in her own right, and has since gone on to achieve over 3 million album sales, two Number 1 singles and six Top 10 singles, including the iconic hits “I Turn To You” and “Never be the Same Again” featuring the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez. 2020 saw the release of her much loved self-titled album, which included hits “Blame It On Me” & “Who I Am’”.
The Selecter is led by their iconic frontwoman Pauline Black and co-fronted by original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. Pauline Black is one of very few women in the 2-Tone scene – often referred to as the Queen of Ska. 2-Tone was a crucial multi-racial, multi-cultural explosion borne out of Coventry and the Midlands that remade British pop from 1979 onwards. The anarchic passion that fuelled Selecter gigs during the original 2-Tone era is still there, except the pair are more driven than ever. Their confidence is sky-high and they’re also writing the best songs of their career, which is saying something given the enduring popularity of hits like “Three Minute Hero,” “Missing Words,” “Too Much Pressure” and “On My Radio”. 2021 saw the release of a Too Much Pressure Deluxe Edition 3CD Box Set & Vinyl to celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary. The band take to the Confetti stage, where Splendour audiences can expect a set of hits from their extensive back catalogue.
Heather Small aka the voice of M People, has had a hugely successful career, and is recognised as one of the seminal voices of the 90s, singing on massive hit songs such as “Moving On Up”, “One Night In Heaven” and “ Search for the Hero”. The group won the Best British Dance Act Award at the Brits in 1994 and 1995, as well as the 1994 Mercury Music Prize for their album “Elegant Slumming”. Heather has since released two solo albums “Proud” and “Close To Miracle” and has gone on to become the soundtrack to a whole host of very special events, including London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid.
Also taking to the main stage is Jerub, the Nottingham based singer-songwriter. Effortlessly blending a variety of genres from soul to alt-rock with R’n’B and pop influences, Jerub has firmly been establishing himself as one to watch. With airplay from the likes of BBC Introducing, BBC 6music and BBC Radio 1, his combination of powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics and magical melodies resonate with a wide audience.
Other names on the Confetti stage include soulful, hope-filled pop and R’n’B act BEKA who has already amassed over 1.3 million monthly Spotify listeners; four-piece pop band Since September who won Little Mix’s ‘The Search’ and will join the group on their Arena tour next year; indie-folk songstress Alice Robbins, often compared to Karen Carpenter and Joni Mitchell and with close to 2 million streams on Spotify; and alternative pop artist Blle whose debut EP reached no.6 in the singer/songwriter iTunes charts.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Confetti Stage at Splendour is in partnership with Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, a leading provider of creative industry education. Craig Chettle, Chief Executive at Confetti, said: “I am delighted to see two Confetti student bands taking their place amongst the star-studded line-up, and also our friend Jacob Fowler with his band Since September. It is such an amazing opportunity for them to perform to what will surely be the biggest audience of their careers so far. The Crying Violets and The Black White will be ably supported on the day by their fellow students on our Live and Technical Events and Media Production courses. They will all work alongside professional crews putting our “Do it For Real” ethos into practice”.
The Courtyard Stage this year will be an eclectic mix of local artists, from post-punk four-piece Cucamaras to soulful songwriter and producer Saffron, the bill showcases the best and most exciting talent Nottingham has to offer.
With lots happening all over the park aside from the three music stages, including comedy in the courtyard, a kids’ area and entertainers out and about in the crowd, the festival is a fantastic day out for all the family.
Children under 11 will once again be admitted free and discounts are also in place for Nottingham City residents. Including booking fee, a standard ticket is £61.60, coming down to £50.60 when the Nottingham City discount is applied. Tickets for Nottingham City residents aged 11-17 are £24.75. VIP packages are also available and start from £91.60 for a Nottingham City adult.
Tickets can be purchased from splendourfestival.com or in person from the Nottingham Tourism Centre. To claim the Nottingham City resident discount, a copy of your council tax bill is required.
To stay in touch with festival news following Splendour on social media:
Facebook: @splendourfestivalUK
Twitter: @splendourfest
Instagram: @splendourfest
#SplendourFest.
Line up
MAIN STAGE
Richard Ashcroft
Supergrass
Rick Astley
Becky Hill
Heather Small
Jerub
Tori Sheard
Nusic Competition Winner
CONFETI STAGE
The Vamps
Melanie C
The Selecter
Sleeper
BEKA
Since September
Alice Robbins
Blle
COURTYARD
Cucamaras
Sancho Panza
The Black White
Alfie Sharp
The Crying Violets
Kelsey and the Embers
Ex.In
Saffron
COMEDY
Paul McCaffrey
Susan Murray
Steve Royle
Mandy Muden
Scott Bennett
Howard Read (compère)
