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Royal William Yard Festival - Full Line Up Revealed

Posted on: 25 Jul 2018

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Alex Ryley
Site Editor

Excitement is building with less than two days to go until the first ever Royal William Yard Festival which aims to put Plymouth on the South West music map.Organisers are reporting strong ticket sales for the festival which headlines with Folk superstar Seth Lakeman headlines on Saturday May 27 and international soul megastar, Soul II Soul's Jazzie B, who will close the show on Sunday May 28. The festival also features some of the best local musical talent in the South West curated by the festival team.

The first ever Royal William Yard Festival promises to celebrate “peninsular living” and everything the beautiful West Country has to offer. The festival will bring areas of the historic Grade 1 listed ex-Naval victualling yard to life with beautiful classic cars, motor bikes and boats providing the backdrop to six stages, dotted around the yard offering an array of musical styles. It will all take place in the stunning surroundings of Grade 1 listed Royal William Yard, recently regenerated to huge acclaim by award-winning Manchester-based property developers Urban Splash.


All acts and performers in the Acoustic Courtyard and the Secret Blues & Jazz stage will be from Devon and Cornwall. These stages have been curated by two of the city's finest live music institutions, Andy Quick of Land of the Giants (acoustic stage) and Russell Sinclair and his Smoking' Locos (Blues & Jazz stage).

Showcasing the tremendous strength and depth of local talent across the West Country, these two stages will have support from the likes of Haunt the Woods, Martin Dale, The Big Sets, Jack Tucker, Elani Evangelou, The Organisation, Vince Lee, Becca Langsford, Lottie Bolt, Rosco Enrique, Double Denim, Gypsy Guys, Tony Harris Quartet, Ryan Jones, Joanne Cooke, Thomas Ford and The Blue Bottles..

Home-grown act, The Super XLs appearing on the Harbour Maritime will be closing that stage with a David Bowie tribute set followed by anthemic Live Aid anthems Saturday evening.

Saturday also sees Meadowlark, who are originally from Plymouth, playing their homecoming gig on the Harbour Maritime stage, their first ever performance in Britain's Ocean City; whilst Sound of the Sirens hailing from Exeter, also on the Harbour Maritime stage, launch their new album 'For All Our Sins'.

Local favourites, Matthew Gordon Price will be opening the Harbour Maritime stage on Saturday whilst the Aaron Douglas Band will be following the Band of HM Royal Marines on the Sunday.

Sunday also see Southwest jive kings, Company B getting the party started on the Harbour Maritime stage before West Country folk superstar, Seth Lakeman delivers a much anticipated solo set.

And, it's not just live music that is well represented by Devon & Cornwall, with Plymouth showing strong support for soul, funk and house music with local DJs and acts.

Local purveyors of soulful house & funk, DancersHip will be providing the feel good vibes in the Sundeck area with support from Pryzm's very own James Jordan, Souled Out's Franz Mac and local legend on his return to the Uk, Dave Green aka DJ Verdi.

The Sundowners stage behind Brewhouse will host Ibiza veteran and Plymouth's premier Balearic chill maestro, Steve Power and the 'Full SP', accompanied by live percussion from former Plymouth University student, King Konga.

There will be the usual fantastic range of Yard food, drink, fashion and beauty from Le Vignoble, IDFashion, Las Iguanas, Wildwood, Bistrot Pierre, Wagamama, Prezzo, Seco Lounge and Envy as well as great art to explore at Ocean Studios.

Festival organisers have liaised with licensing, police, fire regulations and Event Safety Action Group to create a safety and security plan. Coast 2 Coast security will be supplying their staff to help regulate and control the event, they are all SiA accredited and have significant experience in managing this type of event.Creative Director for the Royal William Yard Festival, Craig Roxburgh said: “We can't wait to welcome everyone to the first ever Royal William Yard festival, and give Seth Lakeman and national superstars Jazzie B a big Plymouth welcome. Our new festival really will celebrate everything Devon and Cornwall have to offer. From wonderful waterside living to great food, wine and musical talent. The festival will represent the best of the West Country and will have something for everyone to enjoy."Emily Handslip, Director, Urban Splash says: "We are very excited to host the first ever music festival at Royal William Yard this weekend. The Yard has become the best place to work, rest and play in the South West - and this feels like another very exciting step on our journey."Tickets are available here: https://www.royalwilliamyard.com/festival Daytime tickets cost £15, and Full Access Tickets (includes evening) cost £20 and Childs ticket £5.


Transport & Parking

Make the most of your day and arrive by bike, boat, bus and foot. Due to the high volume of visitors to the festival, parking will fill up very quickly, so we’ve made special arrangements with Citybus and our ferry operators to offer as many alternatives as possible, including a park and ride from Home Park and the Civic Centre, discounted buses and a double ferry service from commercial wharf. CityBus, our transport partner are putting on extra services on the 34 route at the discounted fare of £1. The Festival organisers are subsidising additional ferry services from Commercial Wharf in the Barbican. An additional secure cycle parking compound also will be in place for the festival.

Parking is very much limited and will be on a ‘first come first served’ basis. We will be increasing the number of disabled spaces available during the Festival but this will reduce normal parking spaces. An area of parking will be reserved for residents who don’t have allocated parking spaces.

To buy tickets or find out more visit https://www.royalwilliamyard.com/festival