With just a day to go until Liverpool’s biggest event of 2017, Halfway 2 Nowhere have previewed the weekend and what you can expect from Hope and Glory 2017.
With an eclectic mix of music spanning numerous decades, the curators of Hope and Glory Festival have done an incredible job of appealing to a range of demographics with their 2017 lineup. Headlined on the Saturday by James and on Sunday by the Hacienda Classical, there is a clear 90s twang to the weekend, but with the Wonders of the Age stage along with huge acts such as Reverend and the Makers, and Clean Cut Kid, the festival really does have something for everyone.
Our Picks for Saturday
Saturday has without doubt one of the best festival day lineups of the year so far. Opening the main stage are indie newcomers Clay who are taking the UK by storm with huge headline sets nationwide. Expect them to open with energy and bring life to the festival. Also taking to the main stage on Saturday are Badly Drawn Boy who are celebrating 15 years of their critically acclaimed record “Have You Fed The Fish?” in 2017. Having never seen the band before we aren’t sure what to expect, but having been listed as one of the bands you should see before you die, we expect Damon to be on top form.
Liverpool rock n’ roll band The Jackobins will be sure to pull a massive crowd on the Wonders of the Age stage early on Saturday and are our top pick for the day. With huge tracks such as Hasty and Waiting on the Sun the band are set for stardom very soon and this festival slot could help them do just that in their own back yard.
Our Picks for Sunday
The Sunday lineup was one we thought was going to be wrought with clashes but thankfully, due to insanely well planned scheduling, everyone we want to go and see, we can!
Our picks for the day on the main stage include Clean Cut Kid, who seem to be going from strength to strength at the moment, and Reverend and the Makers who quite frankly owned the Kendal Calling main stage last weekend. Over on the Wonders of the Age, expect fireworks from Cabezudos who much like The Jackobins will be expecting a strong home crowd. Our favourite frontman, possibly of all time, Billy McCarthy will be taking to the In The Lady Garden stage later in the day and will be without doubt one of the highlights of the weekend so do not miss that.
Our pick for the day though are The Shimmer Band. If you haven’t seen or heard of these guys, where have you been! We caught up with them briefly before the festival to see what their slot meant to them, and what 2017 has left in the tank.
The Shimmer Band – Q&A
How does it feel to be playing at this year’s Hope and Glory festival being part of an amazing lineup?
Hopeful and Glorious. The Shimmer Band are honoured
What can we expect from your set?
A sonic orgasm. A set of songs that will make you climax like a volcano…if you let them
The festival organisers are doing an incredible thing giving theproceeds to the victims of the terror attacks. How important do you think music has been in the last few months?
Music is most important. Forever and always.
You’ve had an incredible year so far – have you had any highlights?
Main stage Kendal Calling last week was pretty special, we were on first only half an hour after the main gates opened. We could see the herd of people coming to the stage as we opened our set with our latest single ‘What Is Mine?’
What’s the best thing about being in The Shimmer Band?
Gert fucking sunglasses. And the live middle 8 section in our song Freedom. Spine tingling, every time
Can we expect anything more from you in 2017 or are you busy away writing at the moment?
We may have some tricks left up our sleeve… but yes always writing, we wrote a stinky banger last night in fact…
Where would you like to see the band in a year’s time?
The moon, maybe higher
Many people are tipping you to be the “next big thing”; how does it feel to be getting great reviews across the country?
There has been a lot of positive reviews this year already which, I guess, is a satisfying feeling. I’m sure there’s many to come! But I don’t know how to react being tipped the ‘next big thing’? That phrase makes us a bit sick
If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why?
More all female bands
HOPE AND GLORY 2017
As mentioned, all ticket profits are going to the victims of the Manchester attack earlier in the year. This great gesture has inspired so many people to come out for two days to celebrate music and all the good that comes with it.
Tickets are still available here http://hopeandgloryfestival.co.uk/buy-tickets/. Come say hi!
Halfway 2 Nowhere 