Line-up of legends

1:15pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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WOODSTOCK, the festival that defined the 60s, was headlined by Jefferson Airplane and this year sees the band – in its later incarnation as Jefferson Starship – headlining the newest arrival on Herefordshire’s summer festival scene.

The county already has one of the UK’s most popular summer music festivals in The Big Chill, and now it has another to shout about as the first RocknRoots festival brings some of the biggest names of the last four decades to Much Marcle.

A stablemate of the now-legendary GuilFest, RocknRoots comes to Herefordshire after organiser Mike Stephens decided on the rural site despite a bid from Liverpool in its year as European City of Culture.

“It’s a great coup having Jefferson Starship at the festival,” says Mike. “It’s a major part of our strategy in bringing artists who have laid musical foundations for the industry as we now know it.”

Also on an impressive line-up that’s a who’s who of influential music-makers are Marillion, Curved Air and Bad Company.

“Having Curved Air and Chickenshack is just as important as having Jefferson Starship as they spawned a music vibe that gave us British R’n’B and the classical rock mix that we have witnessed over the past three decades.”

In a line-up of legends – the festival was originally going to be the Legends of RocknRoots – the appearance of one act is especially exciting.

Steve Cropper, the man whose name is synonymous with Stax records and who wrote Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay, one of the most-played tracks ever, joins the RocknRoots festival for its first outing.

“This is a rare and very special opportunity – his name may not be familiar, but everybody knows his music and his songs,” says Mike. “He is the sound and writer of Stax Records, responsible for all those huge early 60s soul hits, including Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood, In the Midnight Hour as well as the Booker T and the MGs’ Green Onions.”

And if that’s not sufficient claim to fame, Steve Cropper is also the main man and founder of the Blues Brothers.

Also appearing in Much Marcle over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August will be Cerys Matthews, rock icon Mike Peters, a special unplugged set from Sisters of Mercy, and local musician and Mott the Hoople founder Mick Ralphs reuniting Bad Company.

The Wurzels, The Animals and European festival band, The BossHoss, making their second UK festival appearance, are on the bill.

It’s not just the quality of the line-up that makes RocknRoots unique on the festival calendar, as Mike explains.

“We associate festivals with the under-40s, but RocknRoots is principally aimed at a slightly older audience who grew up with this music,” he says.

The great three-day festival has three music stages – all undercover – a cinema dome, cyber cafe, Kidz Zone and soccer skills area, a wine bar and exotic foods all set among the beautiful green fields of picturesque Herefordshire.

“Some of these artists you will recognise, some will be new to your ears and eyes,” says Mike “but all will be remembered.”

Herefordshire residents are offered discounts on festival tickets until early August, with £20 off weekend tickets and £6 off day tickets.

Tickets are available from local TICs, Ice Bytes cafe in Ledbury, The Walwyn Arms in Much Marcle, Nick Fisher Music in Hereford and direct from the festival office on 01269 596056.

For details of the full weekend line-up, visit rocknroots.co.uk