Featuring the vocal line-up of Pauline Black and Arthur “Gaps” Hendrickson that catapulted them to success, Nibley is in for another foot-stomping treat this year! Along with fellow Coventry two-tone legends, The Specials, The Selecter were at the forefront of the British ska revival. Classics like “On My Radio”, “Three Minute Hero” and “Missing Words” were pumped out with the backbone of the Hammond Organ and Pauline’s distinctive rude-girl delivery. As with many of their contemporaries, the instinctively danceable tunes belied a number of political messages – not least that of multi-cultural inclusivity at a time of disharmony in many British cities. As the front-person it could be argued that Pauline also became one of the first exponents of “girl power” in a male dominated industry (although this was always inferred at the time). As with most bands the inevitable split was followed by several reunions. The band has been back with Pauline and Gaps at the helm for a few years now and they have graced the stages of many of our much larger summer festivals, as crowds have flocked to remind themselves of the sheer energy, urgency and fun that The Selecter have always delivered.

The Christians came to prominence at the back end of the 80′s and carved out a unique place in popular music. Once described in “Rock, The Rough Guide” as “The Temptations in ripped jeans, producing gritty-centred songs in a sugary vocal shell”, it was front-man Garry Christian’s effortlessly cool voice and imposing appearance that became synonymous with the band. Never afraid to tackle social issues, their haunting, yet hypnotic melodies and beautiful harmonies put a modern, British angle on Soul. Closely tied to their home town of Liverpool they stayed at No.1 for several weeks in the UK with “Ferry Across the Mersey” in conjunction with Paul McCartney and other acts – a song in aid of the victims of The Hillsborough disaster. It is probably their own material that they are best known for with classics like “Hooverville” and “Ideal World” doing exceptionally well both here and abroad. In all the band notched up 10 top 40 singles and had, amongst others, both a No.1 and No.2 Album. The band are still very much in demand playing major festivals across Europe. Nibley is proud to have one of the classiest acts to grace the music scene in recent times - a big Nibley welcome for The Christians!

If Britpop was for many, the irritating spats between Damon and Noel, then Dodgy was the antidote to all of that. Sometimes described as Power Pop Rock, this Indie trio hailing from Redditch originally put a smile back on the nation’s face. NME once said of them that festival promoters would leave a slot open in the sure knowledge that Dodgy would turn up and steal the show. For the 90′s generation they symbolised an innocent form of hedonism – festivals, summer sun and good times. The band seemed to have found the perfect recipe for a rock song – great guitar riffs and choruses demanding to be sung along to, all put together with a genuinely happy vibe. They associated themselves with a wide variety of good causes and charities, something which is often forgotten amidst the joyful tunes. Festival crowds loved them and people went out and bought their records in their droves (they reached the top 40 singles chart 9 times) and yet at their height the band dissolved. Luckily for us the lads reformed back in 2008 to the delight of many. They have since played the likes of Glastonbury and have an eagerly awaited new album due out in February 2012 – perhaps we will be listening to a string of new hits come July 7th?

If you want a fun, high energy festival band then Imperial Leisure must be the most up to date version of it. Ska mixed with Punk, mixed with Hip-Hop, mixed with an occasional nod to rock, it should be a musical mess, yet it works, brilliantly. A large collection of ridiculously catchy choruses, this young band deliver entertainment in bucket-loads. Everything is brought to the crowd with cheeky smiles and a determination to enjoy themselves – it’s infectious! Musically they are super talented with a booming brass section, tight rhythm and the most jumping about on stage you’ve ever seen from a front man (genuinely). This London based band can be seen at festivals all over Europe – we are lucky enough to have them at Nibley so be prepared to stomp it large.

Just won The 2012 Irish Music Awards for best Celtic Rock Band and best Fiddle Player!! The Roving Crows are the real deal when it comes to getting a crowd going Celtic style. With Irish roots, the band are now West Country based. Their act can move between relentless reels and uplifting, soulful tunes, but in the main they deliver up-tempo crowd pleasing, original numbers – if you are not up and dancing to the Crows then you’ve lost your lust for life somewhere along the way. Fantastically talented musicians they might be but The Roving Crows capture the true essence of Irish folk music – a group of people having fun and letting their hair down. We know that the Nibley crowd will love this band and we are thrilled to have on board one of the very best Celtic Rock bands around.

This is a group from the West Midlands that are going places. Their classy brand of upbeat Northern Soul lead them to supporting The Specials on their recent sell-out tour.  The tour took in some of the biggest venue’s in the UK and brought with it some fantastic reviews. Their new album, “The Three Shades of Stone Foundation”  features US Soul singer’s Nolan Porter famed in Northern Soul circles here in the UK for songs such as “Keep on Keepin’ On” and “If I could only be sure” (later covered by Paul Weller), and grammy award winner Joe Harris, lead singer of Motown’s The Undisputed Truth.  The tour and subsequent album have proved a huge success for the 7 piece band, with review’s in the national press (The Daily Mirror - ”4 out of 5 stars, imbued with the velvety magic and driving intensity of classic US soul”) to national tv and radio, with a recent session on the BBC Craig Charles funk and soul show. 
The band are set to begin their own tour of the UK in spring 2012. If you missed them playing with The Specials at the end of last year now’s your chance to catch one of the best live bands of the moment.

When you have band members who go by the names of Grandmaster Gareth and Erotic Volvo you know you are dealing with an act that can see the funnier side of life. Misty’s songs typically consist of Grandmaster Gareth singing in a deadpan, maudlin style accompanied by lively guitar, keyboards and brass players. They occasionally include samples and toy instruments in their songs. Contrasting with Gareth’s dour lounge-singer act is the dancer Erotic Volvo. Dressed in a loose full-body red sack with numerous stuffed blue gloves attached, and his face painted blue, he dances continuously and in an exhaustingly frenetic manner, often moving around the audience. He occasionally also performs as a human beat box. Musical style has been described as an eclectic mix of  jazz, lounge, psychedelia, two-tone, pop and punk so let’s not try and pigeon-hole them shall we! Misty’s are an all-out fun band to watch and are much loved on the festival circuit. Amongst their many admirers is Dave Gorman, the famous comedian and humorist - the DVD “The Dave Gorman Collection” features a special song and video as an extra. The song is titled “54 Dave Gormans”. The band also provided the theme tune to his TV series “Genius”. They have recorded sessions for the likes of  Stuart Maconie, Tom Roninson and Rob Da Bank as well as being featured many times on Radios 1, 2 and 6. Gryff Rhys Jones, Noddy Holder and Sir Patrick Moore have all featured in their work – what can we say – everybody likes Misty’s! We’ve been thinking about having them at Nibley for a few years now so we are delighted that they have the chance to put a smile on all our faces in 2012.

An acoustic guitar duo that formed in 2008 these lads from Liverpool are a delight on the ears. Radio 2′s famously respected “Whispering” Bob Harris said of them “Beautiful harmonies and superb guitar playing”. Rarely can a review be so succinct and so accurate. They have featured many times on BBC radio stations and have had extensive European tours. Anybody that seems them perform live will be captivated by their sound – the crispest guitar, and voices that meld together sublimely.

Original singer-songwriter George Montague plays piano from the heart – his music is an eclectic array of genres combined into a completely unique sound. Delivering energetic rock, pop, soul and blues, underpinned with vintage R&B, funk and jazz mixed with an alternative edge… George delivers a great live act.

Within 5 days of posting his new single on You Tube George had 34,000 unique views placing him as one of the most watched UK musicians on You Tube at that time – luckily we are going to be able to watch him live at Nibley (no broadband connection required!)

“Delightfully Strong, distinctive, High quality compositions & music” – Acoustic Magazine. In fact Cole has had rave reviews from all over the place including Steve Knightley from “Show of Hands” and we think he knows a thing our two about music. Devon based, Cole  is an out and out performer – his warm,engaging style means that he creates an immedite rapport with any audience. About to start his UK tour in February alongside Joseph O’Keefe make sure you don’t miss him on July 7th.

Along with The Specials they kick-started the UK ska scene with a string of top 10 singles – “Tears of a Clown”, “Mirror in The Bathroom”, “Hands off…. She’s Mine”  and “Can’t Get Used to Losing You” are just some of the hits that propelled them to the top of the charts both here and in the States (a rare feat in itself).

A massive act in their own right, they have also played alongside REM, The Police, The Clash, Talking Heads and The Pretenders. They still play the big festival stages to huge crowds and rave reviews - anyone who has seen their recent high energy performances knows that these guys have still got it.  Get stomping!

Q Magazine have described their music as “Like The Boss circa Born To Run, guitars are layered underneath big choruses and bigger harmonies. Stadium-sized, sing-a-long friendly and intoxicatingly engaging”.  They do have the feel of a Springsteen with their anthemic tunes but their sets are also full of humour and warmth.

Rob Cowen and The Dissidents only formed in 2009 but immediately burst onto the radio with their debut self-released single, “Heartache”. Its infectious energy was picked up straight away by BBC Radio 1 (Kissy Sell Out, Huw Stephens, Bethan Elfyn, Adam Walton), BBC Radio 2, BBC 6Music, XFM, plus hundreds of regional and online radio stations. This is Rock how it should be – great tunes, infectious riffs and that ability to draw you in an get you singing along.

N.U.M.B. (Never Underestimate Musical Belief) is a band on the up! They have already played the O2 Wireless at Hyde Park, Glastonbury and Windsor Castle of all places. They have been finalists in O2 Undiscovered and Global Battle of the Bands.

Prince Harry and Rik Wakeman have publicly announced they are fans and Malcolm Toft (world famous music producer of amongst other things “Bohemian Rhapsody”) described the band as the “best thing I’ve heard in years”. Why all the love? If you like incredibly catchy melodies, strong bass lines, and intelligent, lyrical rap then you will love this. They call it Urban Soul – we just know they are going to be one of the next hottest music properties.

A powerful Blues/Rock sound with voices that are fantastically powerful and delicious on the ear. First discovered by John Parish (producer of PJ Harvey and Eels) they were snapped up by their record label and flown over to Seattle to work with another legendary producer Ryan Hadlock (Foo Fighters and The Strokes) to record their first album. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for XFM’s New Music Award in 2010. The band have toured extensively through UK and Europe and have gone over to the prestigious SXSW festival in Texas in 2011. According to The Telegraph “Their sound is delta blues and Turpin’s voice has a size and power beyond his years. He shares vocal duties with Stephanie Ward and on tracks like ‘My Lips Won’t Be Kept Clean’ they duet like Johnny and June Cash.” They almost certainly will be one of the most talked about acts in the next few years – a treat for Nibley!

Flipron are almost completely impossible to categorise. You could call them psychedelic pop but that would be underselling them massively as they have been likened to acts as varied as Tom Waits, The Kinks and Syd Barrett – they are quite unique. Crazy yet accessible tunes with words that mean something marks them out in a world full of pre-packaged artists. They are loved by both the critics (cos they’re clever) and the public (cos they’re clever and funny) and this has lead them to playing festivals such as Leftfield and Glastonbury. Their recent album was produced by Rat Scabies and they spent last year touring the US – enjoy!

Natalie is just 22 and yet she has already won the “Make It Break It” award, has received glowing tributes from Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Radio 2′s Mark Radcliffe, jammed with Paul McCartney and been snapped up by a record label. The BBC have dubbed her a “rising star” and HMV had her perform at their “Next Big Thing” concert. Like many female singer-songwriters today she edges towards the darker side of life with her lyrics but the melodies are uplifting and so immediately catchy. Her songs are simply… beautiful!

Two Carpenters by trade (but not The Carpenters), they decided to track their sometimes hum-drum past through song and they have produced an array of musical gems. Think of Beautiful South and you won’t go far wrong – heavenly tunes with words drawn very much from earthly references.  (“Nearly Killed Keith” tells of how they almost topped the foreman with a nail gun!)  They have toured with the likes of Jools Holland, Glen Tillbrook, Paul Young and Belinda Carlisle, and had airplay both in the States and here on Radio 2.  If writing a great tune is the mark of a great musician then you will love these lads from the Lake District.

Indie rock that you can’t get out of your head, plus the odd manic guitar solo. Rebel Territory seem to mix happy, catchy choruses a la Dodgy or Shed Seven with a bit of Hendrix thrown in for good measure. They’ve toured with The Kooks and you can see why. These lads don’t take life too seriously and there is no doubt you will be swept up with the energy of their live performance. Fun and with a great future ahead of them Rebel Territory will rock Nibley.

Eddie and the Hot Rods began life in 1976, when four teenagers from Southend on Sea got together and playing their own style of fast energetic rock and roll / r’n'b, were soon a big hit on the London pubrock scene. Catching the eyes and ears of the music press and the major record companies, they were soon signed up by the legendary Island Records and went on to have three hit albums and four top forty UK singles including the Top Ten hit ‘Do Anything You Wanna Do’.

There have been numerous TV appearances worldwide and they have filled almost every major venue in the UK. A success in the USA too, they have toured alongside The Ramones, Tom Petty, The Police, Squeeze and Talking Heads.

If you have seen Otway live before you will know what a treat we have in store. If you have never heard of him, nothing can prepare you for this truly unique artiste. His roller-coaster career spans over 30 years and has given him a couple of hit singles. But it is the manic energy and eccentricity of his live performances that has earned him the huge cult following that saw his “Beware Of The Flowers Cause I’m Sure They’re Going To Get You Yeah” voted the seventh greatest lyric of all time in a BBC poll.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wince, but here’s something you ain’t ever going to forget. Come on Otway!

A contemporary rock & roll band, with one finger in a warm 60′s Soul Pie.  They met in Oxford around the summer of 2009 and were instantly singing from the same hymn sheet.  After two months of rehearsals working on singer/songwriter Charly’s back-catalogue, Dave, Jake, Rory and Charly played their first live performance on the Cowley Road in Oxford.

The songs are fresh, but the pedigree shines through – Charly played keyboards in 22-20s, touring with Oasis in 2005, and he has often stepped in to play with Supergrass.  Tell your friends you saw them first at Nibley.

If you don’t know anything about Bhangra, this is the way to find out.  With over 25 years of experience in music entertainment, RSVP have played with some of the biggest names in Bhangra music and are highly respected by their fellow musicians.  But they are not just for the dedicated World Music fan.  Their real strength lies in their ability to turn any occasion into a celebration with their infectious tunes.  That’s why, when we were asking around for recommendations for bands their name kept coming up!

They have developed their own unique style, merging in other genres such as Funk, Jazz, Gypsy, Rock and much more to create some truly uplifting party music.

Formed in 2006, Free Peace bring a unique style all of their own, ranging from hip-hop to acoustic singer/song-writer styles. With seven band members includng guitar, drums, brass and vocals they have a highly original style which fuses African and flamenco influences whilst still retaining pop friendly hooks and a commercial vibe. They’ve performed around the UK and Europe refining their sound and performance skills playing to live audiences. Last year saw performances at many summer festivals along with a tour of the south of Italy.

Blast are Russia’s number one Indie Rock Band. They were hailed by NME as the “Godfathers of Vladrock”. The Guardian dubbed them “The Controversial Young Stars of The Russian Rock Scene”, and Time Out has classed their music as “Dirty, Sleazy, Alternative Rock n Roll”.

Blast are huge back home having supported Blur, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Razorlight, Florence and The Machine and Muse on tour – they have really mixed it with the big boys in the music industry. Just to reinforce their pedigree this August they will be a support act for U2. Now they hope to break into the UK market and Nibley have lured them over to deepest, darkest Gloucestershire to get their feet on the UK festival circuit.  Having already featured on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 1 show and been produced by the likes of Mark Tolle and Graham Pilgrim who have worked for The Stone Roses and The Stranglers respectively, there is every possibility they will recreate the success they already enjoy back home.

True World Music, with musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Dominica and Northern and Southern Ireland. Each musician contributes his individual sound and style, giving a high energy blend of Hi-life, Township, Soca, Calypso and Reggae. It is experimental and innovative without losing sight of the fact that entertainment is the key. Chill out and let the laid-back rhythms wash over you, or give in to your feet, and dance.

It’s no surprise that in the last few years they have played dozens of festivals all over the British Isles, including Glastonbury and Womad. They have recently finished work on their second album, “Your Arms Around Me”.

What better way to finish the evening than dancing to the infectious sounds of Moonshot. Based in Bristol, they have built a reputation as the West’s favourite reggae/ska party band.

This is the real deal – solid brass, rolling rhythms and vocals to get everyone dancing into the night.

Lorraine Ayensu has been making her own music for over 10 years. Her exquisitely crafted songs are not afraid to borrow musical ideas from all over the world. You will catch glimpses of soul, rock, folk, jazz, African and Latin rhythms. In the English tradition of Ray Davis, every song is a story, with intelligent lyrics worth listening to.

Her latest album, “Last Conversation” has attracted some great reviews.

“Her slight undramatic figure becomes the hub of an intense musical experience that really suggests bigger stages and mightier crowds. Steeped in African, Caribbean, Latin and American influences as well as jazz, each number has it’s own provenance as new world music from a global musician who respects her roots. It’s a remarkable achievement.”

- Tony Benjamin, The Venue, Jazz World, January 2009

An impressive nine-piece live act who take the finest ingredients from various genres (Funk, Latin, Jazz, Ska and Reggae to name a few) and smash them together to create a dancefloor-filling extravaganza of epic proportions. Locked tight rhythms, dynamic arrangements and multi-instrumental fireworks: plus vocal illuminations from two of Bristol’s finest vocalists in Ben Sayer and Aimee Mukherjee.

The Fancy Toys seem to exist in a strange dimension somewhere between Paris and Wonderland. Their tunes are quirky and intricate, and the simple jazzy instrumentation creates something catchy, uplifting, sophisticated and effortlessly cool.

See them in the classy London venues, from Ronnie Scott’s to Cafe de Paris, or catch their tour of Iceland this year.

“Takes something special to produce music that is this individual and this far out of the mainstream and yet make something that is immediately listenable and, indeed, charming. A lot of the cognoscenti are chattering hard about Fancy Toys and this suggests that they could well be the next big thing on the club circuit.”

- Andy Snipper, Music News, 8 Feb 2009

The Trish Brown Band is a radical 5 piece group that combine original jazz, acoustic, blues and soul tunes. Currently working the Bristol circuit this collective are set to make their mark. They feature Ed Gallimore on kit, Will Edmunds on guitar, Rich O’Brien on bass, Jonny Herbert on alto sax and are fronted by Trish Brown. They have been called funkalicious and electrifying, these guys are not to be missed!

Regular NibFesters will remember seeing some of The Roseville Band on the small stage in the beer tent last year, and this year they’re back with their full lineup on the main stage.

They’re from Wrexham and describe their music – rather accurately – as “soulful, bluesey rock”. They also mention guitarist and songwriter Andy Jones’s “distinctive” vocals which, along with their horn section, definitely add a pleasingly unique character to their to their six-piece lineup. The NME called them “The Welsh Kings of Leon”, but they do things like that. We call them The Roseville Band and let the music impress.

A bohemian sound that fills you with an enormous sense of well-being; the rugged and rusty vocals transform the songs into mini-tales that explain a whole notion of concepts and simply philosophies. I may be reading too much into it, but they are the kind of band who make you think about their songs. With a poetry of percussion that searches soulful depths as the lyrics unfold a majesty of imaginative song writing. The music transports the listener, you feel like you become a part of the song and you relate to the simple rhythms, using only a couple of guitars a handful of didgeridoos, a ukulele and a big hand style drum. They create a tapestry of sound, rich in detail. Their cover of MIA – Paper Planes was a wonderful piece of music that topped off a really good set.

This young five piece formed in February 2007 and their accomplished performances are demanding attention. They play regularly in the pubs and clubs of Bristol but we think their irresistible anthemic tunes are better suited to the big festival stage. Catch them while you can.

“The fact that they possess a sound that is both accessible enough for mass appeal and intelligent enough for the approval of beardoes up and down the land may very well make them unstoppable.”

- Live Music Scene

It is a return home for this local boy who is now based in London. He has just recorded his second album ‘Songs in the Key of Lizard’, a diverse and enthralling mix of folk, reggae and hip hop – perfect for a summer afternoon. Relax to the cacophony of lyrical gymnastics, gorgeous hooks, infectious rhythms and imaginative subject matter covering everything from fugitive gorillas to guanabana fruit juice.

It’s a busy year for him, with gigs all over the country.

They headlined the first ever Nibley Festival and some say they made it what it is today.  Then in 2010 they stepped in at late notice to cover for a missing band on the main stage.

BBC Wales Adam Walton said of the band “I’ve been playing Wrexham’s Heal The Last Stand on my show for a few years. Their music is a spring breeze of freshness and hope blowing through the cynical fury of many of their peers. I love cynical fury. But when it gets claustrophobic and unremitting, I can think of few bands better to soothe fizzing eardrums and ruptured spirits than Heal the Last Stand.” Get back to 70s California, grab yourself a bit of Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young), add a dash of sunshine, a sprinkling of close friends and a glass of something nice…  Roll on summer!

Local favourites Brian and Nick switch seamlessly from reflective mood pieces to raucous sing-along. They make the most of their contrasting styles to provide light and shade to their songs and their relaxed delivery is always engaging.

They are now a popular addition to many festival line-ups, so why not catch them on their home turf.

Local singer songwriter and winner of the BBC Gloucestershire Solo Folk Performer Award

From the sunny south coast of England, come Not Made In China. An upbeat angular 4-piece pop band with tunes to put a smile on your face.Recalling the sound of The Smiths (Marr riffs rather than Morrissey durge), Paul Simon, and Kirsty MacColl to name a few, but creating a joyous noise all of their own. Experienced around the festival circuit, Not Made In China’s interweaving guitar melodies, soaring harmonies, afrobeat drumming, and bouncing bass lines will surely get stuck in your skull.  “Their debut EP is an all-round feelgood indie record, which is bound to have you clapping your hands, and stomping your pigeon-toed feet” (247 Magazine)