Standon Calling 2023: Rick Astley, Melanie C and Scouting for Girls among new acts on the four-day bill
Rick Astley is one of a raft of new names added to the roster for this summer's Standon Calling music festival, which features Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party and The Human League as the headliners over the four days.
The 57-year-old started as a Stock, Aitken and Waterman hit machine protégé in 1987 and 20 years later he found a new generation of fans with "Rickrolling", where the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up, a number one hit in 25 countries, is concealed in internet links as a prank.
During the 1980s, when the singer-songwriter and radio personality released a string of successful records including Together Forever and Whenever You Need Somebody, he sold 40 million singles and albums worldwide.
Then he surprised fans by taking a six-year break, but following his return to music on the back of his new-found worldwide web fame, he released the single Lights Out after touring with comedian Peter Kay. Six years later he released his album 50, to celebrate his 50th birthday, and again hit the top spot in the charts, and has continued to record new material ever since.
He has continued to cultivate new fans with surprising live appearances, including backing Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on the drums and joining Blossoms as the frontman during a set of The Smiths classics.
His show on the Sunday (July 23) promises to be something special and Rick said: "I can't wait to head back to Hertfordshire for Standon Calling – hope to see you all there!"
The Friday (July 21) will feature Scouting for Girls. The band's self-titled debut album was number one in 2002 and has sold over a million copies in the UK. It spawned hit singles She's So Lovely, Heartbeat and Elvis Ain't Dead.
Other new acts on the bill include folk rock band Bear's Den, The Big Moon fronted by Juliette Jackson, art rockers Django Django, New York's We Are Scientists, Irish post-punk band The Murder Capital, South Yorkshire indie outfit The Sherlocks and London-based Warmduscher and their American lead singer Clams Baker Jr.
Further fresh names to look out for on stages across the site are Thomas Headon, Caity Baser, Ellie Dixon, 49th & Main, Shae Universe, Wasia Project, Lottery Winners, Mandy Indiana, Scalping and Keg, Joe Unknown, Deptford Northern Soul Club, Chris Mimo, Darius Syrossian, DJ Emma, London Disco Society, Pablo Contraband, Pete O'Callaghan, The Sunchasers, Tommy B and Young Pulse.
The latest announcements on who will be joining Anastacia, KT Tunstall, Melanie C, Squid, Dylan, Confidence Man, Bob Vylan, Lynks, Sprints, Flowerovlove, 24hr Garage Girls, The Cuban Brothers, Club De Fromage, Queer House Party also include Standon stalwarts and comedy duo Dick and Dom with their legendary DJ battle.
The four-day festival from July 20 to 23 at Standon Lordship will also feature family fun, a dog show, swimming pool sessions, a colourful costume parade, hot tubs, wellbeing, in-conversations, workshops and street food.
Last year, Standon Calling became the first and only major UK music festival to achieve the Keychange pledge with over 50% of the line-up identifying as female or non-binary and this year it aims to go further.
More details, tickets and family bundles for Standon Calling 2023 are on sale at http://www.standon-calling.com/tickets.