As the BBC 6 Music Festival prepares to make its Glasgow debut, local stars Belle & Sebastian are announced as headliners.
As one of Glasgow’s most loved bands, it’s fitting that Belle & Sebastian are topping the bill on the last night of the BBC 6 Music Festival on Sunday 26 March at the O2 Academy. 2017 is set to be a busy year for the six-piece, with the announcement of North America tour dates for this summer as well as new material due out later this year. Fans at all dates can, therefore, expect to hear some new songs as well as material from their extensive back catalogue – including the now expected stage invasion during ‘The Boy with the Arab Strap’, accompanied by frontman Stuart Murdoch’s happy or horrified face depending on the size of the aforementioned stage.
Details of the festival were revealed by Lauren Laverne, joined by band members Murdoch and Chris Geddes, on BBC 6 Music yesterday. Now in its fourth year, the festival will also see Depeche Mode playing the 2000-capacity Barrowlands for the first time since 1984 – unfortunately clashing with the Belle & Sebastian show. Glasgow duo Honeyblood will also take to the stage of the O2 Academy on Saturday 25 March.
Other acts that will be gracing Glasgow stages include Goldfrapp, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Anna Meredith, Bonobo, Ride, Cate Le Bon, The Shins, Future Islands, Sparks, Sleaford Mods, Songhoy Blues, Car Seat Headrest, Warpaint, Loyle Carner, Grandaddy, The Lemon Twigs, DUDS, Dutch Uncles, Forest Swords, Gaika, Girl Ray, Haley Bonar, Julia Jacklin, Kadhja Bonet, Sacred Paws, Thundercat, and Whitney; with a DJ set from James Lavelle (UNKLE) and many more.
The weekend will also host the 6 Music Festival By Day – “a celebration of live music, conversation, comedy and spoken word” with appearances including Father John Misty, Edwyn Collins, Sinkane, Temples, Emma Pollock, The Wedding Present, John Lydon, Anna Meredith and Ian Rankin.
BBC 6 Music Festival takes place at multiple venues across Glasgow from 24-26 March 2017. Tickets are on sale from 10am on Friday 24 February and available from the festival website.
The arrival of the BBC 6 Music Festival proves again that it’s music – as well as people – that make Glasgow.
