Beat-Herder 2022: Ribble Valley festival announces first wave of acts before summer returns

After a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and with heartbreaking postponements, Beat-Herder returns July 14-17 for a belated 15th anniversary party brimming with hedonistic joy.

The legendary event features over 20 whimsical stages, world-class DJs, live performers and comedians, and plenty of surprises. This year marks the first time the festival will take place over four days, opening up the Ribble Valley site on Thursday for an intimate gathering for those lucky enough to grab the very limited tickets for an extra day of unbridled revelry.

Beat-Herder lives on as it did when it started as a free DIY party in 1998: uncompromising, unwavering, and distinguished by an overwhelming sense of community. Its reputation as one of the friendliest festivals around can be attributed to its loyal followers – friends and families who create new memories to cherish in a bold and crazy atmosphere every summer.

Headlining the main stage this year and promising an electric live show is one of music’s greatest living legends, Nile Rogers & CHIC. With a musical catalog that transcends generations and whose creative prowess knows no borders, expect the stage to ignite with monumental hits such as ‘Le Freak’, ‘Good Times’ and ‘Everybody Dance’. .

Also appearing this year are reggae icons The Wailers, whose music was, and still is, a culture: rebellious hearts with brave souls embodying the spirit of 70s reggae. They are joined by the creators of dancefloor parties Hot Chip, known for their electric live performances and cited by The Guardian as the “greatest British pop group of their generation”. They’ll be armed with their collection of earworm hits, including “Over and Over” and “Ready for the Floor.”

The sensational and innovative electronic act Public Service Broadcasting will also join the party on the main stage, while Craig Charles will perform his captivating Funk & Soul show live at Beat-Herder this summer; alongside original reggae breeder and soundclash champion David Rodigan.

Vocalist and lead guitarist of the rock band Gomez, Ben Ottewell is well known for his unmistakable voice and talent for searing, inspired guitar solos. He performs alongside Cassia, who will deliver their euphoric, carnivalesque indie-pop sounds. Hugely popular electronic band Dub Pistols, who have been tearing up festival stages for over 20 years, are confirmed; as well as otherworldly ravers Henge, winners of the ‘Best Live Act’ distinction at the Independent Festival Awards.

Stage-confirmed Toil Trees, Beat-Herder’s birthplace and beating heart set in a majestic forest, is techno legend Alan Fitzpatrick whose gripping sets have propelled his award-winning career on an upward trajectory. Also confirmed are one of the country’s best-known DJs, HAAi, whose exhilarating sets mix techno, breaks and 90s rave; alongside dubstep pioneer and distinctive experimental techno producer KiNK, “one of dance music’s most captivating live performers” (DJ Mag), performing live.

The aptly named Fortress, a monstrous corrugated iron construction, is home to the most diehard Beat-Herder revelers. Featuring fire-breathing turrets, the fortress will host drum and bass icon and dancefloor king, Danny Byrd; alongside the master of reinvention, visionary producer, label owner and DJ Dance System.

Reflecting the mystical heritage of Ribble Valley, The Ring is a sacred arena where all genders converge in a melting pot of past, present and future. A 100-foot-diameter mound of earth accessed via a giant Stonehenge-style entrance, it’s the perfect place to capture the stadium’s original home innovators, Utah Saints, whose sampling of everything from Eurythmics to Kate Bush, made it one of the first crossover sensations of its kind. . BBC Radio 6’s innovative DJ Jamz Supernova will take to the decks with his avant-garde mix of alternative RnB, global club sounds and left-wing electronics, while world-renowned DJ Krafty Kuts, respected for his highly technical turntablism, will deliver a meticulously crafted set.

At Trash Manor, expect an eclectic and eccentric chaotic courtyard, where 2020Vision big boss and prominent electronica figurehead Ralph Lawson will spin a myriad of house music. Greg Wilson, who is widely credited as the godfather of Manchester’s electronic music scene in the early 1980s, and who played a pivotal role in the development of British club culture, also performs.

The Factory is a two-level arena that you can point into, but never exit. Looking a bit like Studio 54 transported 40 years into the future and 3500 miles to the east, it’s the perfect backdrop to host the lovingly crafted remix project and party Fleetmac Wood. Featuring exclusive remixes and edits made for the dance floor, this DJ set and AV show is not a tribute act, but a rave that reframes the music of Fleetwood Mac, taking you through disco, techno, house and everything else.

Music is only part of the experience at Beat-Herder. Completely handmade from scratch, the stages stand out as something truly bespoke in the increasingly cookie-cutter festival landscape. This attention to detail creates an immersive world full of alluring and intriguing creative concepts, winning ‘Unique Festival Arena’ at the 2019 AIF Festival Awards, and the ‘Extra Festival Award’ at the UK Festival Awards, for ‘attention to detail and unforgettable creation. festive experiences. Where else would challenge you to find the hidden, heated pool, or invite you to dance to drums and bass in a chapel?

If the beats and bartenders get a little too loud, patrons can slow the pace by lounging by the huge fire in the stone circle, sample one of the many workshops available, or sit back and enjoy nostalgic entertainment on its own site. club.

It’s no surprise that it’s cited as a “favorite festival” by so many. Experiencing Beat-Herder is like riding a roller coaster like no other.

Tier 4 tickets are now available for £174.45 including booking fee via https://tickets.beatherder.co.uk/