Omid Djalili

One of Britain’s freshest and most original comics, known for his legendary stand-up performances. Omid is intelligent, sometimes provocative and always entertaining. His stand-up is a hugely energetic and captivating comedy masterclass. Renowned for his razor sharp wit, boundless energy and expertly crafted cultural observations, his original material continues to explore the diversity of modern Britain and he remains one of the most exciting entertainers on the circuit.

“Belly laughs with a subtle blend of mainstream gags and subversive twinkle” The Sunday Times

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Saving Grace Ft. Robert Plant & Suzi Dian

Legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant is back with a new project… a co-operative featuring Suzi Dian (Vocals), Oli Jefferson (Percussion), Tony Kelsey (Mandolin, Baritone and Acoustic Guitars) and Matt Worley (Banjo, Acoustic and Baritone Guitars and Cuatro). The five musicians work in glorious harmony from start to finish reworking an incredible and intoxicating mix of mountain songs, new works, classics and uncovered gems from the 60’s, creating a musical journey in its truest form.

Saving Grace will be supported by Catfish Keith.

“I’ve been privileged to share some amazing moments with Robert through the years but none were more magical, kind and beautiful than the performance by his new band Saving Grace this evening. One of the best gigs I’ve seen in years” Bob Harris

“This odyssey has been undertaken in the spirit of appreciation, musicianship, and exultation: they truly are a band of joy!” Americana UK

Rick Witter & Paul Banks – Shed Seven Acoustic

An acoustic set by Shed Seven founding members Rick Witter and Paul Banks. Expect all of their classic anthems such as Going for Gold, Chasing Rainbows and Getting Better, plus songs from their acclaimed new album, Instant Pleasures.
Combining dark, hypnotic pop with lyrics that make you call your mum the next morning, Disco Down to Platform this July for an unforgettable set.

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RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS

Get ready for the most famous bagpipe band in the world, as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers bring their groundbreaking fusion of traditional Scottish music and rock/pop anthems to Platform Festival. Think men in kilts, bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a show that carries its own health warning! Fat Bottomed Girls, Don’t Stop Believing, Wake Me Up, Gimme All Your Loving, Chasing Cars… there’s nothing these guys won’t cover! They’ve performed to more than one million people around the world – including the Queen and Samuel L Jackson: achieved triple platinum status for their Blast Live and have performed live with everyone from Ed Sheeran to Sam Smith! You can’t miss this one!

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WARD THOMAS

Following the release of their acclaimed UK top 10 album, Restless Minds, and being awarded the prestigious Global Artist Award at the CMA Awards earlier this year, country-pop duo Ward Thomas return to Platform Festival following their acclaimed performance in 2017.

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LUCY SPRAGGAN

Lucy has released 5 albums in 6 years – the last 2 reaching number 12 in the Official UK chart. She tours consistently, is signed to Cooking Vinyl Worldwide and has a unique style of acoustic folk and pop. Lucy mixes humour, talent and honesty to create her own fresh sound. Selling on average over 30,000 hard tickets a year, she is certainly existing at the highest of levels.

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TWINNIE

On the strength of the songs the Yorkshire-born, Nashville-hearted singer-songwriter has created for her forthcoming debut album Hollywood Gypsy, we’ll be hearing her name repeated far and wide over the coming months and years. Now it’s time for the rest of the musical world to catch up with what country music-watchers – who clocked Twinnie’s stand-out performances at last year’s C2C festival at London’s O2 – have known for a while: this Brit is a future international star.

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THE BBC BIG BAND

The internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band and conductor Barry Forgie, are joined by the incredible vocal talents of Jeff Hooper, for a very special concert celebrating the very finest best Swing and Big Band. Through a diverse repertoire arranged and curated by the orchestra’s conductor, the concert celebrates the music of the twentieth century’s most iconic big bands and vocalists, whose legacy and influence defines a classic era of music. Featuring the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman – through to the music of the great swing vocalists, including Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darrin and Tony Bennet, this an evening of truly world-class music which is not to be missed. “They brilliantly continue the tradition of Big Band music. As such they are important, as well as marvellous!” Michael Parkinson

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RICHARD THOMPSON

Powered by evocative songcraft, jaw-dropping guitar playing, and indefinable spirit, this venerable icon holds a coveted spot on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and counts a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association in Nashville, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Awards among his many accolades. Moreover, Time touted his anthem, “1952 Vincent BlackLightning,” on its “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923” list. Thompson was co-founder of the ground-breaking Fairport Convention, which virtually invented British folk rock in the 1960s, and his influence can’t be overstated. Everybody from Robert Plant, Don Henley, and Elvis Costello to REM, Sleater-Kinney and David Byrne have covered his music. “The finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” Los Angeles Times

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NEW YORK BRASS BAND

New York Brass Band are North Yorkshire’s only contemporary New Orleans inspired Brass Band. Hailing from the ancient streets of York the band are at the forefront of a funky brass revolution that is sweeping the UK. Inspired by Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels, Hot 8, NYBB pack a powerful punch of relentless drums, rumbling tuba and wailing horns… nothing kicks a party into gear like the sound of a smokin’ New Orleans Mardi Gras Jazz Band.

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THE GRAND OLD UKE OF YORK

Expect upbeat rock, pop, ska and anything in-between with big bass riffs, electric melodies and group harmonies throughout; this 12-strong collective have been in a whirlwind since they began 9 years ago.

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TRUCKSTOP HONEYMOON

Hollering with all their hearts over a five string banjo and a doghouse bass, Truckstop Honeymoon live the life they sing about. Touring across three continents with four kids and a truck load of songs, Katie and Mike West tell stories about the strangeness of everyday life. Their music combines elements of bluegrass, music hall jazz, and straight up rock’n’roll.
“Bluegrass, punk-rock and a palpable dose of soul” The Pitch

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BUFFALO SKINNERS

The Buffalo Skinners are painting from a broad palette of influence. The result being a rare depth of musicality and creativity drawing from 1960s Folk to modern day Americana. The music is full bodied, rich and warm, but it’s the sweetness of the two, three and four-part vocal harmonies that gives the band their unique sound. Previous adventures have included extensive touring (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Norway, America), festival appearances (Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, BBC Radio 2 live in Hyde Park, Wilderness, Deer Shed, Tramlines), and three full length studio albums, the most recent of these being produced by Mercury Prize nominated Colin Eliot (Richard Hawley, Slow Club). The Skinner’s have earned attention, air-play and esteem of Bob Harris, Steve Lamacq, Janice Long, Jericho Keys, Cerys Matthews, Dermot O’Leary and Paul Jones.

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PLUMHALL

Plumhall are Michelle Plum and Nick B Hall, a feisty Yorkshire based duo whose award winning self-penned songs are already winning them plaudits from the likes of R2 Magazine (4 stars), Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff), Steve Knightley (Show of Hands) and many more. The pair deliver guitar and harmony driven textures of folk, Americana and pop, and have have been wowing audiences on the live acoustic circuit in the UK. Michelle Plum is a former member of Chumbawamba, Waking the Witch and The Accidental Tourists, and in her own right has supported Aimee Mann, Capercaillie and Shane MacGowan to name but a few. Nick Hall has been a member of the Hall Brothers band nearly all his life, and has supported Hugh Cornwell, Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, Glenn Tilbrook plus many more.

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JESS GARDHAM

Multi award winning songwriter/musician Jess Gardham has now released her latest EP of original material called ‘Rise not Fall’. Jess’s first album ‘Beyond Belief’ got rave reviews and went on to be a songwriting finalist for BBC Radio 2 with them saying that “she is a songwriter to watch”. With her own brand of pop/soul/acoustic fusion she has supported a whole host of internationally known acts (KT tunstall, The Shires, The Magic Numbers, Paul Carrack, Wilko Johnson), her self penned songs have been played on BBC introducing and other radio stations throughout her musical career. Her music has taken her all across the UK, Europe, Canada and the US and she has played venues such as York Barbican, Manchester O2 Academy, The Limelight (Nashville US), Le Blues Autour du Zinc in Beauvais France.

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