Newark: McFly drummer Harry Judd aims to put smiles on faces when his band headlines Newark Festival next month
McFly drummer Harry Judd is aiming to put a smile on everyone’s face when his band headlines Newark Festival next month.
Their appearance at Riverside Park on Saturday, August 21, will be their first headline performance since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Harry, who has played with the band since it formed in 2003, said: “Everything in the past 18 months has been postponed and postponed but I’m hopeful that this time it’s actually going to happen.
“We’re so excited, I think not just for us but for people to be able to go to shows and watch live music.
“The pressure and the frustration has been building up and we can’t wait to lift the lid and celebrate and have an amazing night.”
McFly have done several virtual performances over the last year, which have been streamed on their website McFly Total Access.
However, the Ellis Mather Presents Newark Festival will be one of their first shows since the first national lockdown in March 2020.
“We just will do as we always try and do and put on a great night of entertainment,” Harry said.
"We never take it for granted. We’ve been going for 17 years now and it will be our mission in Newark as it is in every venue to try and put on an amazing night for everyone.
“I know the guys are all just so excited. I feel like at the end of every McFly show our aim is to make sure that every person there is leaving with a smile on their face.”
The band plan to play all of their most popular songs, including Five Colours In Her Hair, Obviously, Room On The Third Floor, Shine A Light, and All About You.
However, Harry says that Newark Festival will be slightly different from their other shows.
He said: “For us, we don’t necessarily see these shows as your typical McFly gig because we appreciate that a lot of the audience coming may be families and people that maybe wouldn’t normally come to a McFly gig so we bear that in mind and we just try and make it an entertaining show for everyone.”
The group will also be heading on tour in September 2021 after having to re-schedule the original dates three times due to the pandemic.
Now, the group are raring to go and hope that the audience of Newark Festival are equally as excited about the upcoming performance.
When asked to give a message to those thinking of buying tickets, Harry said: “We are so excited. If you’re even questioning coming along don’t question it, just be there. It’s our absolute mission to make sure you have a great night and we can’t wait to be there.”
In addition to McFly, the Newark Festival line-up will feature Gabrielle, Lemar and Vernon Kay with a DJ set of Eighties and Nineties music.
