Summer might be a way off, but it’s not too early to get excited for the Secret Garden Party 2017 after the first wave of acts were announced last week.
Back with a bang just months after its 2016 success, organisers revealed that the theme for next year’s festival would be Sweet Dreams – embracing the world of celebrity, fame and society’s need to get ‘there’.
Seeing if ‘there’ is all it’s cracked up to be, the 2017 instalment will give party-goers a taste of what its like to have everyone know your name, ‘like’ and follow you online, and where ‘sweet dreams’ are made by you.
And, joining the party as two confirmed headliners will be electronic group Metronomy and legendary reggae artist Toots & the Maytals.
This is the second time Metronomy will be performing at the Secret Garden Party, after a stint on the Pagoda stage in 2008 – the year front man Joe Mount says inspired him to write his latest album.
“The last time we played Secret Garden Party was in 2008, for one reason or another we don’t remember it very well,” he said.
“I do, however, have vague memories of Oscar [fellow band member] shouting obscenities repeatedly at a saxophonist and by the end of the night they were very close friends, what more can I say? We can’t wait to come back and create further bonds within the horn playing community.”
Helping to popularise reggae worldwide, Toots & Maytals have spent six decades sharing their music with the world and are known for hits
‘Monkey Man’, ‘Funky Kingston’ and ‘Pressure Drop’.
Even Amy Winehouse and The Clash have been known to cover their work.
Also set to appear are Honne, Heremy Loops, Tom Misch, Akala, Deap Vally, Ray bik, Zak Abel, Etta Bond, Let’s Eat Grandma, Anteros, and Jagwar Ma.
Jagwar Ma played at the Secret Garden Party in 2014, and the Australian trio’s second album – ‘Every Now and Then’ – is currently gathering international acclaim for its infectious cocktail of groove-laden tracks.
Irish rapper Rejjie Snow is also set to appear at the festival, having opened for Madonna in her recent world tour and signing to Lyon Cohen’s 300 label in the US.
The Secret Garden Party will return on July 20, running until July 23.
Tickets are now on sale for the event in Mill Hill Farm, at Abbots Ripton.
For more, visit secretgardenparty.com.
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