Northampton Music Festival FULL line-up revealed

30 May 2022

Clockwise from top: Sarpa Salpa, T Bone Afrika Allstars, Kate Coyle and Pop Spencer.

The full line-up for Northampton Music Festival has been revealed, with 61 acts set to perform in eight locations throughout the town centre.

The free music festival, which takes place on Sunday, 19 June, kicks off at 11:30am on the Main Stage in Market Square with Northamptonshire school children performing Katy Perry’s Fireworks in sign language and culminates with a homecoming headline set from Northampton-based band Sarpa Salpa, whose new single ‘Dreaming’ is receiving critical acclaim.

The World Music stage, in the courtyard of The Guildhall, will see a headline performance from T Bone Afrika Allstars – formed just a few months ago, the band is already playing to packed audiences across the country conjuring up the sense and feel of Africa.

Northampton’s own Ivor Johnson Band, rooted in soul and gospel music, will play an array of instruments from around the world.

Sandeep Raval, curator of the World Music Stage, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for the Northampton community to experience world class talent on their doorstep for free.”

Headlining the classical stage, in its new home at Northampton Museum’s Courtyard, will be esteemed musicians David Blackadder and Richard Holloway.

David is one of the world’s finest trumpeters who was hand-picked to play at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Richard is one of Northamptonshire’s most respected and admired pianists who has dedicated much of his life to inspiring students at NMPAT.

The Jazz Stage at the Guildhall Hotel will be headlined by the Alex Clarke Duo.

One of the most in-demand and versatile young saxophonists on the British jazz scene, Alex won the Rising Star category of the 2019 British Jazz Awards and was a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition in 2020.

The New Boots stage at The Black Prince on Abington Square will see folk-rock flair for the headline performance from Northampton singer Aryah and her group.

New and emerging talent will be celebrated on the Student Showcase Stage in Element Courtyard on George’s Row with performances from students at Northampton College and the University of Northampton.

Two pop-up stages have been added to the line-up, both in memory of local musicians Pop Spencer and Kate Coyle who recently passed away.

Gelda Spencer, Pop’s wife, said: “Music was such a big part of Pop’s life and he loved performing at the local festivals in Northampton. He would be so proud of this tribute to him at Northampton Music Festival.”

Kate’s friend, Scott Walters, said: “Kate was an amazingly talented singer and ukulele player and her favourite places to play were The Black Prince, The Mailcoach and The Fish. Kate was loved by so many.”

Pop-up curator Hannah Faulkner was determined to remember both much loved local performers during NMF22.

The full line-up of the festival is:

MARKET SQUARE – MAIN STAGE
11:30am: SIGNING Stars
12pm: Wellingborough Gospel Choir  
1pm: Richard Exall’s Shooting Stars  
2pm: Mystic Crew  
3pm: Hana Brooks  
3.30pm: Gabriel Halford and Dave Crawford  
4pm: Sharmaine 
5pm: Lay it Down  
6pm: Phantom Isle  
7pm: Pure Genius  
8pm Sarpa Salpa  
 
GUILDHALL COURTYARD – WORLD MUSIC STAGE 
1pm: Durgesh and Friends   
2pm: Inta Africa  
3pm: Paul Jackson   
4pm: Brazilian Vibes  
4:30pm: Plastic Visual  
5pm: The Ivor Johnson Band   
6pm: TBone Afrika Allstars 
(Followed by a spectacular finale featuring all acts) 
 
GUILDHALL HOTEL – JAZZ STAGE 
1pm: Elle Delaney and Co  
2pm: Dan Wyllie Quartet  
3pm: The Krupa Connection  
4pm: Day-Hood & Co 
5pm: Wayne Matthews Trio  
6pm: Alex Clarke Duo  
 
NORTHAMPTON MUSEUM COURTYARD – CLASSICAL STAGE 
12:30pm: Joshua S Bell  
1:30pm: Kay Warçaba  
2:30pm: Wellingborough Gospel Choir  
3:30pm: Rob Colley  
4:30pm: David Blackadder and Richard Holloway  
 
THE BLACK PRINCE – NEW BOOTS STAGE 
1pm: Chargr 
2pm: Jasmine Burns 
3pm: hazeyjane 
4pm: In Atoms 
5pm: Paul Ronney Angel 
6pm: Aryah 

ELEMENT COURTYARD – STUDENT SHOWCASE STAGE 
12:45pm: The Stencil Pencils 
1pm: Tabitha Brown  
1:20pm: Sophie & Daisy  
1:40pm: Katakuris  
2pm: Matt Jones 
2:20pm: xtahc 
2:40pm: New Age Jam 
3:10pm: Plastic Visual  
3:30pm: Thrifted 
4pm: Back2Basics  
4:30pm: Mitsäu 
5pm: One Way Ticket 
5:30pm: Our Condolences  
6pm: Osmium_band_ 
6:30pm: Worth a Shot 

POP-UP STAGE OUTSIDE V&B (ST GILES’ SQUARE) – A TRIBUTE TO POP SPENCER
12pm: Niamh Keating
12:50pm: Ant & Luke
1:40pm: Mae Stephens
2:30pm: Hannah Faulkner
3:20pm: Marc Checkley
4:10pm: Charlie Tarry
5:10pm: Jake Brown

POP-UP STAGE ON FISH STREET – A TRIBUTE TO KATE COYLE
12pm: Andreas Rose
1pm: Michael Green
2pm: Scott Walters
3pm: Tom Cayton
4pm: Joseph Boyle
5pm: Ray Beck

For more information, and to receive news and updates on the acts performing, follow #NMF22 on social media on Facebook @northamptonmusicfestival, Instagram @NNmusicfestival and Twitter @FestNN.