The UK’s most iconic retro festival series, Let’s Rock, will be coming to seven locations across the UK this summer, including new events in Northampton and Swansea, while Let’s Rock Scotland have partnered with Party at The Palace for a two-day event in August.
The season kicks off on June 15 with Let’s Rock Northampton and finishes on August 10 and 11, with the inaugural Let’s Rock Scotland + Party at The Palace.
Headliners across the seven events include UB40 feat. Ali Campbell, Billy Ocean, The Human League, Bananarama and Squeeze, with other performers including ABC, Lulu, The Boomtown Rats, Level 42, Jason Donovan, Go West, Nik Kershaw, Altered Images, Toyah and, making their festival debut, Thereza Bazar’s Dollar.
Jason Donovan states: “If it’s Let’s Rock, then it’s the summer! You’ve got a great chance of playing to a great crowd of people who are up for a good time in the sunshine. What’s not to enjoy?!”
“I love the family atmosphere of Let’s Rock,” adds Toyah. “The audience are the priority and you feel that as a performer when you’re looking out at tens of thousands of really happy people who are all welcomed into that field as family as well. It makes it very special.”
Let’s Rock tickets start at just £35, so it’s no wonder Let’s Rock has grown into the UK’s biggest retro festival series and, in doing so, has re-launched and revitalised the careers of many ‘80s icons.
The incredibly loyal and notoriously enthusiastic Let’s Rock audiences – many of whom dress up in their finest ‘80s fashion – are one of the many reasons the stars return year after year.
Martin Fry (ABC) says: “My favourite thing about playing Let’s Rock shows is it’s like stepping into a time machine fuelled by pure energy.”
“The vibe is always so special and it really feels as if you are part of something wonderful,” adds Mark King (Level 42). “The audience play a huge part in this, of course, and there’s no doubt we are all there to have fun!”
Thereza Bazar (Dollar) exclaims: “Incredibly Let’s Rock is my first ever festival! What an amazing opportunity to reach an audience who love ‘80s music, from diehard Dollar fans to making new friends.”
LET’S ROCK 2024 – FACTS & FIGURES
- There will be more No.1 hits performed at Let’s Rock than any other festival this summer! Let’s Rock artists are responsible for 30 UK No1 hit singles and over 500 million worldwide album sales.
- Billy Ocean has sold over 30 million albums and is the biggest black recording star Britain has ever produced. In 1985 Billy became the first British artist to win the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. In 2020 he was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to music.
- Formed in 1978, UB40 put posters up all across their native Birmingham before they even owned any musical instruments. Their big break came when Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde invited them to support her band a year later on a national tour. UB40 have sold an incredible 70 million albums worldwide.
- Sheffield legends, The Human League, have been fronted by Phil Oakey since 1977 when they were called by their original moniker The Future. They took their new name from science fiction board game ‘Star Force: Alpha Centauri.’ Early supporter David Bowie famously described them in 1978 as “the future of pop music.”
- Bananarama hold the Guinness World Record for the highest number of chart entries by an all-female group. Their 1981 debut single “Aie A Mwana” was co-written by Daniel Vangarde, father of Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter. Apart from US R&B singer Jody Watley, Bananarama were the only women featured on Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’
- Squeeze has always featured songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, but at various times other band members have included Jools Holland, Steve Nieve, Paul Carrack and also Grammy Award winner Bruce Hornsby.
- Lulu is the only artist on the Let’s Rock bill to have performed a Bond theme (1974’s ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’). She is also the only artist at this years’ festivals to have won the Eurovision Song Contest – in 1969 with ‘Boom Bang-A-Bang.’
Let’s Rock works with many amazing charities including official charity partner Child Bereavement UK, who support families and educate professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a family is facing bereavement. Since partnering with UK Live in 2014, Child Bereavement have raised almost one million pounds at Let’s Rock events.
LET’S ROCK FESTIVAL SERIES 2024
JUNE 15 – LET’S ROCK NORTHAMPTON, DELAPRÉ PARK, NORTHAMPTON
Billy Ocean (Headline), Tony Hadley, The Boomtown Rats, Go West, Tom Bailey, Heaven 17, Jason Donovan, Altered Images, China Crisis, Sonia, T’Pau, Thereza Bazar’s Dollar + more TBA
JUNE 22 – LET’S ROCK LEEDS, TEMPLE NEWSAM, LEEDS
UB40 feat Ali Campbell (Headline), Level 42, Peter Hook & The Light, Go West, From The Jam, eXTC, Jason Donovan, Kim Appleby, Altered Images, Toyah, China Crisis, Andy Crane vs Pat Sharp DJ Battle + more TBA
JUNE 29 – LET’S ROCK EXETER, POWDERHAM CASTLE, KENTON, EXETER
UB40 feat. Ali Campbell (Headline), Boomtown Rats, Sister Sledge, From The Jam, The Real Thing, eXTC, Jason Donovan, Kim Appleby, Altered Images, Toby Anstis vs Pat Sharp DJ Battle, Sonia + more TBA
JULY 6 – LET’S ROCK SOUTHAMPTON, SOUTHAMPTON COMMON, SOUTHAMPTON
The Human League (Headline), Level 42, Peter Hook & The Light, From The Jam, eXTC, Jason Donovan, Kim Appleby, Altered Images, China Crisis, Dr & The Medics, Harriet Scott vs Pat Sharp DJ Battle+ more TBA
JULY 13 – LET’S ROCK SHREWSBURY, THE QUARRY, SHREWSBURY
Squeeze (Co-Headline), Bananarama (Co-Headline), Martin Kemp (DJ Set), Go West, From The Jam, Nik Kershaw, eXTC, Jason Donovan, Kim Appleby, Altered Images, Red Box, Dr & The Medics + more TBA
JULY 20 – LET’S ROCK WALES, SINGLETON PARK, SWANSEA
UB40 feat. Ali Campbell (Headline), ABC, The Boomtown Rats, Go West, The Real Thing, Nik Kershaw, The Christians, Jason Donovan, Jaki Graham, Musical Youth, Neal X of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Red Box + more TBA
AUGUST 10&11 – LET’S ROCK SCOTLAND & PARTY AT THE PALACE
Let’s Rock Scotland (Saturday 10):UB40 feat. Ali Cambell (Headline), Lulu, ABC, Heaven 17, Big Country, Go West, Skids, Toyah, Odyssey, Jaki Graham, Thereza Bazar’s Dollar + more TBA
Party at The Palace (Sunday 11): Ronan Keating, Bananarama, Callum Beattie, Generation GBX, The Farm, Mary Kiani, Livin’ Joy, Sweet Female Attitude + more TBA
Tickets on-sale now priced from just £35 via letsrock80s.com and letsrockthepalace.com.
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