Underneath The Stars Festival 2024 – Preview

By At The Barrier on 23rd July 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Underneath The Stars – as the saying goes, Since 2014 – preps for one last hurrah before taking a break….

The tenth anniversary and the last one (for now – never say never…) that brings together familiar faces with some new names on the bill. Loads of the usual quality festival fare for all ages and all tastes – check out the Indian Fish & Chips in particular! Here are just a few of many many things musical to look out for:

Serial offenders

Yes, Kate Rusby is headlining the first night, which is unusual as she usually rounds things off on the Sunday, but we guess she might join Bill Bailey at the en of his set for a farewell finale of sorts. Great too to see a Damian O’Kane set too. Always a bit different be it with his electric band, a Rob Block banjothon or with his extended family. A bit of all that wouldn’t go amiss this year.

Barnsley Youth Choir are always on hand too usually to provide a hearty start to Saturday morning. One of Kate’s favourite turns over the ten years I’ll wager

Returnees

I guess too that the Bar Steward Sons Of Val Doonican could be called regulars – we’ve seen them four times (but haven’t been at every festival). Their appearance at the first UTSf at Cannon Hall was our/my first time – walking in the tent and hearing a familiar tune but then to be greeted by a chorus of Walking In Man Piss and the bait was swallowed, hook, line and sinker. It’s the ‘new’ big band line up now too, so looking forward to a first encounter in the fresh format. As someone once said, “hope you like our new direction?!“

Hope & Social are back – could anyone forget their performance being closed down the year the huge deluge hit Cinder Hill Farm resulting in the power being switched off for safety? And how they gamely did their best as the tent slowly began to flood! No repeat please…

Going solo

Ruth Lyon opens the festival on Friday afternoon and after her solo performance at the 2023 Manchester Folk festival without the Holy Moly Crackers on backup, we can be sure of a classy and laid back set – maybe…with Conrad Bird from HM&TC doing a turn too?

Add another two performers usually armed with just a guitar John Smith and Katherine Priddy – both highly admired – and the solo performers element of UTSf 2024 is a quality bill.

At last

Filling the slot that was last year occupied by poptastic, chart bothering Scouting For Girls, The Feeling might have the younger ticketholders getting all excited down at the front of the tent while it might be a little less frenzied for former Brit Award nominee Rumer. Both add to the breadth of the bill which has in the past seen the likes of The Lottery Winners and Radiohead’s Phil Selway nudging the boundaries of a folk and world music based bill.

On the other hand it’s great to see Beans On Toast getting a booking. Likely to be delivering a very full set packed with anecdotes, humorous and touching observations, we witnessed him last at Cropredy in 2023, entertaining the masses. Talking of which, no doubt the seasoned O’Hooley & Tidow, and Skinny Lister will be doing the same. Can’t wait for the Skinnies in particular after their Shanty Punk album lit up 2023 and we can’t wait for another of their riotous sets. Whether the flagon of rum will reappear or has it now become a victim of heath & safety regs…? Not seen Belinda & Heidi for a while either but expect a similar Bean On Toast balance of humour and touching songs, always with an eye on the topical.

Discover

And as per any festival, the names that might initially prove mysterious can often be the ones that are the most rewarding. New doors opened if with the discovery of anyone from Suntou Susso, Dolores Forever, Brown Horse to Oh My God, It’s The Church. It could even be your first time for someone like Skinny Lister and if that’s the case, then you’re in for a rowdy treat!