Newark Festival 2018 : Special guests and earlier start are announced

Organisers have confirmed that Hothouse Flowers will support Marti Pellow as special guests on the Saturday night of the Newark Festival weekend.

The addition to the bill for the seventh Newark Festival has prompted a change in format.

Organiser LHG Live, in collaboration with Newark Town Council, have announced that, following audience feedback, performances will start at the earlier time of 1pm, with gates opening at noon.

Taking to the stage on the afternoon of Saturday, June 16, at the Riverside Park will be 1980s favourites Kim Wilde, Go West, Nick Heyward, Limahl and The Fizz.

They will give way to special guests Hothouse Flowers, ahead of the main headline act Marti Pellow, best known as the frontman of Wet, Wet, Wet.

Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group, who combine traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel, and rock.

The band comprises Liam Maonlai, Fiachna Braonain, Dave Clarke and Peter O’Toole.

The band have built a loyal following across the world, and, in November 2016, featured in the opening sequence of the first episode of Jeremy Clarkson’s new car show on Amazon, The Grand Tour.

Their first album, People, was released in May 1988 and was the most successful debut album in Irish history.

It reached number one in Ireland within a week and reached number two in the UK Albums Chart.

The first single from the album, Feet On The Ground, reached number one in Ireland in March, 1988.

Since the release of their last CD, Into Your Heart, Hothouse Flowers have been playing across Ireland, America, Great Britain, Japan and Europe.

Newark Festival gets under way on Friday, June 15, with Riverside Rocks featuring tribute bands to The Who, The Stone Roses, The Rolling Stones and Queen.

The festival concludes on Sunday, June 17, with a free Family Fun Day followed by a Swing In The Park evening concert and fireworks finale.

'Fresh new Saturday format'

Promoter Liz Doogan-Hobbs said: “What a line-up we have in store for the entire weekend of Newark Festival 2018.

“I am particularly proud to confirm our fresh new Saturday format, which will see us open the gates much earlier, and then fill the entire afternoon with a fantastic line-up of stars, including Kim Wilde, Go West, Nick Heywood, Limahl and The Fizz.

“The evening session will be amazing, with our headline act Marti Pellow — whose unbelievable vocal talent and brilliant stage presence made Wet Wet Wet such an iconic band — and, at his invitation, Hothouse Flowers will be joining him as special guests, delivering another terrific performance.”

Marti Pellow said: “I am looking forward to singing for you all at the 2018 Newark Festival in June. Newark is a great town — I travelled there as a boy and remember visiting the castle.

“My new show is a lot of fun with all the favourites. See you there.”

Marti is a BRIT and Ivor Novello award-winning singer-songwriter.

As both a solo artist and with Wet Wet Wet, he has had consistent chart-topping multi-platinum albums; with over 25 chart hits and three of the UK’s biggest number-one singles, including Goodnight Girl and Love Is All Around.

For information on Newark Festival tickets go to www.newarkfestival.co.uk or visit the Town Hall.