News

Final Wizard Festival Line Up Announced

• 11th Aug 2010

Wizard festival organisers have announced lots more acts in the run up to the event that takes place in just over two weeks time on August 27 and 28 in the heart of rural Aberdeenshire.

Up and coming acts from across Scotland have been anxiously waiting to see if they have secured a slot on one of the festival’s most electric stages, the Banshee stage, to perform in front of thousands of fans.

Bands and solo artists from the North-east of Scotland that will play at this year’s event include: Brothers Reid, In Atlanta, JJ Bull, Three Knots, Right Hand Left, Indian Red Lopez, Velvet Audio and Jerry Jablonski.

Other acts from all corners of Scotland that will take to the stage at Wizard this year include: Make Sparks, On the Fly, Iain McLaughlin and the Outsiders, Three Blind Wolves, Kid Canaveral, The Side and the Grousebeater Soundsystem.

These acts join the already confirmed Hip Parade and The Draymin that complete the Banshee stage line-up for 2010.

Brothers Reid is an exciting new 5-piece folk/blues/bluegrass band from the North-East of Scotland. Based in rural Aberdeenshire they are influenced by 70’s bluesy vibes and add a modern folk twist. Young song-writing brothers Fish and Chris Reid are at the heart of this ensemble and are a real find for Wizard festival organisers who believe these young guys are a huge talent in the making.

In Atlanta are from Aberdeen and have secured their first ever festival performance at Wizard this year. Regular appearances on the local music scene means that In Atlanta are building up an impressive fan base around the North-east. These four lads from Aberdeen rock a refreshing style of upbeat electro and alternative pop tunes.

Stonehaven’s Three Knots will be making their festival debut at Wizard this year and fans are sure to be mesmerised by this five piece act as they churn out some absolutely pumping indie/electro tunes.

Releasing his debut album this year JJ Bull is a singer-songwriter from Aberdeen with a rare raw talent. His album, ‘Ou Sont Les Elephants’, has been called an “unexpected gem and an excellent debut”. Tagged as one to watch in the next twelve months, JJ Bull will be taking to Wizard’s Banshee stage on Saturday August 28.

Indian Red Lopez, Right Hand Left, Jerry Jablonski and Velvet Audio will also be performing over the weekend of the festival as many of the North-east’s most talented acts showcase their talents in front of an international audience of music lovers.

Roy Thain, Wizard festival organiser said:
“Once again the calibre of young musicians and bands that applied to play at Wizard was very high and we have had a tough time deciding on the best acts to put onto the bill. We see this as an opportunity to provide local talent with a chance to perform at a major music event and hopefully help them to achieve their ambitions. Wizard is a great platform for artists and musicians from all over the North-east to shine and we are committed to providing as much help as we can to these acts so that they can move forward with their careers. We are really looking forward to watching these acts step up and deliver great shows for fans that will travel from all over Scotland, the UK and further afield to attend Wizard”.

Two more acts from the North-east will also play at Wizard. One of Aberdeen’s most vibrant acts, aka SKA, a nine piece trumpet, keyboards and guitars outfit will perform on the Banshee stage on Friday August 27. Renowned for their raucous live are returning to Wizard this year following some storming performances, aka SKA will be bringing the best in Ska music to the New Deer showground in their first ever performance at Wizard.

On Saturday August 28 on the Banshee stage will be the renowned Johnny Cash tribute band, The Folsom Five who hail from Aberdeenshire. These local tribute artists will be giving a full rendition of the Johnny Cash back catalogue in what promises to be a thigh slapping toe tapping extravaganza.

In keeping with the festival’s ethos of supporting talent from all across Scotland bands from the Highlands to the Central belt have also been given slots on the bill of North-east’s only two day music festival.

Grousebeater Soundsystem will be making their way from the Highlands making waves with their unique sound. Blending influences from traditional jigs and reels to Drum ’n’ Bass, this band are guaranteed to get the audience on their feet with their foot stomping live performance.

Based in Glasgow Make Sparks are a talented trio with an indie guitar sound that is wowing fans at venues across the country. Ahead of recording their first album in the autumn the band are performing at Wizard on Friday August 27.

Three Blind Wolves hail from Glasgow where they have a big cult following. Performing big old rock n roll tunes the band’s debut mini album- ‘Sound of The Storm’ has received great reviews in the UK music press.

Edinburgh based indie rockers Kid Canaveral join a great line up of up and coming Scottish acts at Wizard making this year’s bill one of the most exciting new talent showcases of the Scottish festival season this year. Releasing their debut album only two weeks ago called SHOUTING At Wildlife, the band have created a timeless indie-pop album that is receiving airplay on stations up and down Scotland.

The Side will be representing Ross Shire at Wizard and are a four piece indie act with a real sting in their tail. Billed as ones to watch by Wizard festival organisers Janice Long at BBC Radio 2 says, quite simply, “I love them”.

Iain McLaughlin and the Outsiders hail from Inverness and by their own admission is made up of “arguably the finest young contemporary musicians Inverness has to offer”. Recognised as one of the best new bands in Inverness, this act will be playing Wizard’s Banshee stage on Friday August 27.

Making their first Wizard appearance is On the Fly and they will complete the up and coming acts line up for Wizard 2010.

Aberdeen favourites The Little Kicks have secured a main stage slot and Celtic rockers Celtallica have also been included in the main stage line-up.

Wizard festival is a two day music, arts and cultural event held deep in the Aberdeenshire countryside. With more than 50 acts performing across three stages including a full DJ line up Wizard festival is one of the hidden gems in the UK festival calendar.

A family friendly event there is also a full two day programme of children’s and young people’s activities. Tickets are on sale from a variety of local and online ticket outlets. Visit link for more details.
Banshee Stage Line Up:

FRIDAY 27TH AUGUST Website / Myspace
1. AKA SKA link link
2. GERRY JABLONSKI BAND link
3. INDIAN RED LOPEZ link
4. MAKE SPARKS link
5. ON THE FLY link
6. Iain McLaughlin& the Outsiders link
7. THREE KNOTS link
8. VELVET AUDIO link

SATURDAY 28TH AUGUST Website / Myspace
1. THE FOLSOM FIVE Cash Tribute
2. GROUSEBEATER SOUNDSYSTEM link link
3. HIP PARADE link link
4. THE DRAYMIN link link
5. ROOT SYSTEM link
6. THREE BLIND WOLVES link
7. BROTHERS REID link
8. KID CANAVERAL link link
9. THE SIDE link
10. RIGHT HAND LEFT link
11. IN ATLANTA link
12. JJ BULL link