Due to a scheduling conflict The Magic Numbers have, with regret, have had to withdraw from this year’s festival but in their place we are delighted to announce that The Blockheads will be headlining the Friday night of the festival.

Starting out as the band behind Ian Dury, the Blockheads are a legendary outfit that has grown in stature from the early days of the Stiff tour in 1977, right up to the present day.  Backing up Ian Dury’s poetic lyrics & rarely off the road since the demise of Ian Dury in 2000, now with Derek Hussey fronting the band, the Blockheads are still one of the most underrated British bands of all time, with a legion of fans of all ages.

Their last studio album, ‘Same Horse Different Jockey’ released on 35th anniversary of the release of ‘Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick’ continues to show both their diversity and supreme quality, as well as showcasing their uniqueness.

Along with some new material you can expect to hear “Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick”, “Wake Up And Make Love With Me”, “Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3)”, “What A Waste”, “Clever Trever”, “Sweet Gene Vincent” and many more from the illustrious back catalogue.

The Blockheads are fronted by Derek ‘The Draw’ Hussey, and Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher still remain from the original band.  The current line-up is augmented by John Roberts on drums and a rolling line up of saxophonists that includes Gilad Atzmon, Terry Edwards and Dave Lewis.

Tickets for individual days of the 3-day festival have also gone on sale on 1st August and can be purchased by phone on 01947 603475 or via website www.musicportfestival.com

With its Arts Council funding agreed Musicport is now completing its line-up for its annual October festival that brings international artists together with national & regional acts to create something unique and special on the Yorkshire coast.

Latest additions to the line-up include comedian Jeremy Hardy a regular on BBCs News Quiz & I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, the uplifting band from Marseilles Moussu T E Lei Jovents, ace guitarist and songwriter John Smith, young bluesman Sean Taylor and a new project Morris-Natyam that uniquely combines English folk dance and Indian Classical dance.

With six stages in one indoor venue (Whitby Pavilion) it is guaranteed mud-free but with a festival bazaar and outdoor food stalls, a DJ café, films, workshops and children’s activities it manages to create the feel of a summer festival in an indoor space. Now in its 17th year it is always trying to develop and build on what it has previously done year on year and a major new development this year is that the Monday & Tuesday following the main event sees the festival going out on tour to nearby towns and villages. As the festival coincides with half term this year it is hoped this will appeal to family audiences in the area and it will replace the usual fringe events that have previously happened in Whitby. Full detail of this is still being confirmed and will be the subject of a future press release but festival director Jim McLaughlin said “We are aware that there are lots of towns and villages that are geographically and socially isolated so we think this is a great opportunity to take some really high quality acts to places that don’t often get a chance to see such things .“  It is hoped that the Sol Cinema the world’s smallest solar powered cinema will accompany the tour showing short films to small audiences with popcorn & ushers/ usherettes to complete the experience.

 Musicport 2017 Line up includes:

Friday (5pm-2am – £28) includes:

The Blockheads, Martin Taylor, Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe) , Jamie Smith’s MABON Geoff Berner, Runaway Samba, Moscow Drug Club & Morris-Natyam (UK/India)

Saturday (10am – 2am £48) includes:

The Mahotella Queens (S. Africa), Kathryn Tickell & The Side, Don Letts (DJ set), comedian Jeremy Hardy, Sarah Jane Morris & The Bloody Rain Band, Lemn Sissay, Me & My Friends, Michael Messer’s Mitra (India/UK) , Flamenco Con Fusion, Edd Bateman’s West African Love Affair, Sean Taylor Trio, Manjula , Joe Solo, Fie! Fie! Fie!, The Skandals, Commoners Choir and a new collaboration between Whitby pianist Jess Wright & BBC Young Musician Of The Year finalist Delia Stevens .

Sunday (10-am – Midnight £45) includes:

Lynched (Eire) Soup Songs Live (The Songs Of Robert Wyatt), Moussu T E Lei Jovents (France) Varldens (Sweden) Arstidir (Iceland) Coope Boyes & Simpson, John Smith, Maz O’Connor Trio, Harpeth Rising (USA) Ragged Union (USA), Martin Alvarado (Argentina), The Harty Family, The Peace Artistes, Well Dressed Gentlemen.

Throughout the weekend celebrity chef & comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli will be hosting a cookery stage where chosen artists will demonstrate the food and culinary skills of their cultures including local folk legend Norma Waterson who will also be appearing at the venue in early 2017 at her own festival Normafest (which Musicport is organising in conjunction with her family).

Weekend tickets for Musicport are priced at £99 for full weekend currently but will go up to £110 on

1st September.

Day & session tickets will go on sale on 1st August at various prices.

www.musicportfestival.com

Tel 01947 603475

Details will soon be forthcoming of MUSICPORT GOES ON TOUR …a 2-day half-term programme on Mon 24th & Tues 25th October when various festival acts will play in small venues in the surrounding areas of moor and coast accompanied by the world’s smallest solar powered cinema (Sol Cinema) complete with usherettes, popcorn and a selection of short films.

For more info please visit: www.musicportfestival.com

Tel: 01947 603475

Notes to Editors

Interviews with The Blockheads are available