Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband to open Standon Calling festival

Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband, fronted by bishop's Stortford's Simon Baker, will be kicking off this summer's Standon Calling festival.

The titans of Thursday night partying will be joined by festival favourites Baron Goodlove & The Dreadful Noise, rising Newquay trio William The Conqueror and the bouncing sweet sounds of Club De Fromage to close the first night in a blaze of glory.

The band said: "Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband are stoked to be coming back to open Standon Calling on the Thursday night! Last year's performance was our favourite show last year - and that's saying something – we played over 130 shows in 2018 - so we're really looking forward to getting the amazing Standon crowd riled up with some kicking disco classics!"

The latest new names for the line-up from July 25 to 28 also includes the richly tipped Everyone You Know.

Melding dance, hip-hop, indie sensibilities and a knack for soundtracking modern Britain, their headline slot on the BBC Introducing stage will be a glimpse into the future. They will be joined as headliners across the weekend by a true BBC Intro favourite Connie Constance, whose debut album English Rose arrived just over a month ago to critical acclaim, and the Americana swings of CC Smugglers playing tracks from debut album How High.

Another new name appearing is JGrrey, who said: "Super excited to play this one. The more I perform the more I fall in love with it so I know this will be awesome."

Only Sun are also on the line-up and said: "We're really excited to have the opportunity to play at this year's Standon Calling, huge love to the heroes at BBC Introducing in Beds, Herts & Bucks for being wonderfully supportive to upcoming bands like us. It's a huge honour to be joining some of our favourite bands around now like CHIC, Idles and Friendly Fires. Expect colourful vibes and fun times!"

The boutique festival in the grounds of Standon Lordship prides itself on an eclectic mix of international superstars, talked-about favourites and rising new talent.

This year it will be headlined by the iconic Nile Rodgers & CHIC, the Mercury Prize-winning Wolf Alice and pop supremo Rag'n'Bone Man with special guests Friendly Fires, Echo & The Bunnymen, Róisín Murphy, IDLES, Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia, Kate Nash, The Big Moon, Steam Down, The Japanese House, Band Of Skulls, The Go! Team, The Joy Formidable, Sea Girls, Erol Alkan, Simian Mobile Disco and Warmduscher.

The comedy bill includes Russell Kane, Angela Barnes and Abandoman and there is also a wide variety of family entertainment.

Tier 4 tickets are now on sale for Standon Calling 2019. For details see http://www.standon-calling.com/tickets