It’s the BFG of stages, the Orchard Stage!
Your first stop as you adventure into our underwater world this summer – after you’ve unpacked your submarine and zipped up your diving suit, of course – is the Orchard Stage. Home to some seriously legendary performances over the years, this year we’re swapping apple trees for anemones as we welcome some of the best current artists to explore the depths of the ocean floor with us. To whet your whistle for July, let’s take a closer look at the jam-packed, full-fat line-up who’ll be performing for your delectation in just a few months’ time…
They’ve been top of our wishlist for years and years, so we’re so excited that technicolour troubadours Fat Freddy’s Drop will be crashlanding onto the Farm to headline in 2023! This seven-piece hardly requires an introduction, but the uninitiated can expect an intoxicating smorgasbord incorporating everything from jazz to dub to reggae to techno from one of the world’s finest live acts. We can’t wait to welcome original junglist Shy FX into the Orchard: along Stamina MC, he’ll be showing off his production chops, formidable stage presence and unique blend of soundsystem culture with electronic futurism. Few bands can claim truly legendary status – and The Wailers are most certainly one of them. Bringing a set full of incredible cuts from Bob Marley’s back catalogue as well as a ton of their own classic hits, when The Wailers come calling, you’d best be listening!
It wouldn’t be Nozstock without our master of proceedings – Grandmaster Flash, that is! He revolutionised DJing and has played for the likes of the Superbowl crowd and Queen Elizabeth – but we all know his favourite crowd will be waiting in the Hidden Valley this summer. We’ve got another firm favourite back in reggae legend David Rodigan, who will be celebrating his 45th year in the music industry with us all this year. Make sure you’ve got your antihistamines handy – hip-hop-beats-boogie-funksters The Allergies will be storming the Farm with a live set as part of their mission to recreate vintage sounds for the modern dancefloor. Dutch/New Zealand trio MY BABY will be rocking us to sleep and waking us straight back up again with their unique mix of rock, punk, blues, EDM and big beat, while Eva Lazarus is returning with a live set full of big voice, big bass and big hair sure to sprinkle some summer magic over the whole Orchard!
Get your stomping boots on and get ready to party with a riotous set from Geordie folk-punk-rockers Holy Moly and the Crackers, while skiffle-pop trio Thrill Collins will be bring the spectacular medley marathons that have seen them become firm festival favourites over the last decade. One-man groove, electronica and alt-blues army Funke and the Two Tone Baby will be showcasing his impressive looping and sampling skills, while BLOCO B will be bringing the magic of Rio de Janeiro Carnival-style samba all the way to the Hidden Valley. Celtic rock ‘n’ rollers The Roving Crows will be making a pit stop with their heady combination of fiddles, harmonies and blistering social commentary, while Sussex-based party-makers Duncan Disorderly & The Scallywags will be scallywagin’ all over the shop with their infectious blend of folk, reggae, Balkan beats and singalong anthems. Make sure to catch The Pleasure Dome: founded in 2019, this three-piece have already been gigging around the world with their grunge, punk and indie sound and poignant lyrics. Finally, Malawian one-man-band Gasper Nali will be bringing his incredibly danceable brand of Afrobeats, complete with his home-made bass guitar and lyrics written entirely in the Malawian language of Chichewa.
Phew! Artists and sounds from all around the world, just about every genre and instrument imaginable and a hefty dose of music industry royalty – and that’s just what we’ve got for starters. Keep your eyes peeled for yet more announcements of what you can expect to find when you venture 20,000 acres under sea…
Written by Anna McCully Stewart
