How well do you know Wychwood’s headliners?

17 April, 2019 by Alyssia Smith

Think you know your disco funk legends from your pop-rock heros? Think again!

We've delved deep into our headliner's pasts to bring you all you need to know about these wonderful acts.

Scouting for Girls – Friday

Music Genre:: Pop-Rock
Sounds like:: The Hoosiers, The Pigeon Detectives, Razorlight, The Feeling.
About:: Childhood friends Greg Churchhouse, Peter Ellard and Roy Strive playfully modelled their name from the title of the 1908 boy scout handbook Scouting for Boys in 2005. The London band released their self-titled debut album in 2008, reaching #1 on the UK Albums Chart. The platinum selling album, includes noughties hits She’s so lovely, Elvis Ain’t Dead and I Wish I Was James Bond, bringing nostalgia to all the screaming millennials out there. More recently, the boys have been touring, releasing music and Roy in particular has been writing for contemporary teen heartthrobs One Direction, The Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer. Be prepared to dance, clap and jump for this lively band, who will be tearing up the Main Stage on Friday night!
A highly energetic and joyful live experience, Scouting For Girls showed that their music is still just as relevant today as it was a decade ago
Zoë Godden (The Courier)

Music Genre:: Fusing the world of disco funk with their own unique new romantic, post punk vision.
Sounds like:: Heaven 17, The Human League, Thompson Twins, Howard Jones.
About:: One of the most popular new wave bands of the 80s, ABC, led by charismatic singer, Martin Fry, formed in Sheffield and to date, have released nine studio albums, topped the charts with The Look of Love and Poison Arrow in 1982 and later on Be Near Me in 1985. Apart from having my Uncle’s all-time-favourite album, they also pride themselves on the Motto: “Purveyors of fine product“ and the Attitude: "cosmopolitan, arch, elegant, romantic and a little bit ironic I suppose”. This iconic group will be headlining our Main Stage on Saturday, gifting us with some of their classic new wave hits.
ABC’s Martin Fry is a revelation, a soul man supreme, belting out pristine Vegas glitter pop and uptown House in his electric blue lounge suit. An ageless performer, Fry is the missing link between Bryan Ferry and Jarvis Cocker
Stephen Dalton (NME)

Music Genre:: They arrived via the punk rock scene and their quirky approach to musical genre led them onto exploring a variety of musical styles, from new wave, art rock and gothic rock through to sophisti-pop.
Sounds like:: The Undertones, Skids, Adam & The Ants, The Jam
About:: The Stranglers are an English band, who originally formed as “The Guilford Stranglers”, in the southern England village of Chiddingfold in 1974, playing heavily within the pub-rock scene. However, they flourished in the 1980’s, accumulating 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date, with a career spanning four decades. Their mainstream boom came with the single Golden Brown in 1982 which has been described as dreamy and a little like honey on the ears. The hit went on to be used in films like Snatch in 2000, directed by Guy Richie, featuring Brad Pitt. So, whatever you do, don’t miss out on these iconic and epic performers, who we have the pleasure of saying are gracing our Main Stage at Wychwood Festival 2019!
A Stranglers gig is a community. A beautifully off-kilter world and proof that, in art and music, you can make up your own rules.
John Robb (Louder Than War)