Happy Mondays to headline this year's Godiva Festival...

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Coventry is set for its best ever Godiva Festival after securing the Happy Mondays as its headline act.


Coun Lynnette Kelly with Tony Skipper, chair of the Coventry Music Forum

The Manchester legends will be the star attraction at this year’s event, raising hopes that it will beat last year’s record of attracting 125,000 people over three days.

Organisers hope that the draw of such a high-profile group will add to the festival’s growing reputation and be great news for Coventry’s economy.

The country’s biggest free family festival takes place at War Memorial Park in Earlsdon from July 4 to July 6.

The 1980s/90s Manchester group, whose hits include Step On and Hallelujah, still have a large following nationally. They will headline the main stage on Saturday July 5.

Singer Shaun Ryder said: “We’re all really excited and looking forward to playing the festival for the first time - outdoor events always have a good vibe and atmosphere about them as well.’’

As well as live music this year’s council-run event will also offer the usual alternatives of comedy, family entertainment and attractions including a fun fair.

Coun Lynnette Kelly, cabinet member with responsibility for events, said: “I know for many people the festival is the highlight of the year so we want people to put the dates in their diaries and encourage them to come along and give their support to the event.

“These are difficult financial times for the council as people will be aware, so agreeing to deliver such an event is a difficult decision; however, as last year’s festival research showed us, the event is great for attracting people into the city which in turn is good news for the local economy and the city’s profile, not only locally but regionally and nationally.

“When you read that the total estimated economic impact of last year’s festival was calculated at nearly £1m and the total economic activity figure was also put at some £4.5m, then you can see how important the role is that the event plays in boosting the local economy.

“We are also very keen to make sure as a city we maximise the economic benefits of hosting such a high profile event and to encourage visitors to visit the city centre, enjoy the attractions and come back at a future date. Events like Godiva help us to do just that as the figure of 28 per cent of event attenders last year being from outside the city illustrates.

“At the moment we are also looking at extending the impact of the festival by hosting some additional events and activities in the lead up to the main festival, based on a ‘fringe style programme’.

“Being able to attract such big names as the Happy Mondays to headline the event – and with many others to follow – also shows how highly thought of the event is which, of course, is further great news for Coventry.”

Coventry’s own Skabilly Rebels fronted by local legend Roddy Radiation are the only other act confirmed so far.

He said: “All the Skabilly Rebels are thrilled to be playing their home-town Godiva Festival, we missed playing last year as I was doing a tour of California.”

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Godiva Festival 2014: Buzzcocks and The Selecter added to line-up



Two more legendary bands have been added to the bill of Coventry’s Godiva Festival.

Both Manchester punk favourites Buzzcocks and Coventry’s own ska stars The Selecter will be taking to the main stage on Friday July 4 to kick-start the festival weekend at the War Memorial Park in Earlsdon.

Buzzcocks have been going strong for an incredible 38 years and have enjoyed a string of hit songs including Ever Fallen In Love and Promises and are established favourites on the live music scene.

Coventry-based The Selecter are another well-respected and popular band who have also been performing live since 1979 and were one of the leading bands that arose from the Coventry-led 2-tone explosion in the late 70s.

They have also enjoyed a run of success with songs such as Three Minute Hero, Missing Words and Too Much Pressure and are still recording.

Coun Lynnette Kelly, cabinet member with responsibility for events at Coventry City Council, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce two more great bands to open this year’s festival and I’m sure many people will remember singing along to both bands’ classic songs.’’

Happy Mondays are Saturday’s headliners , while The Buzzcocks and The Selecter will close Friday night.

Coventry’s Godiva Festival – organised by the city council – is now well-established as the Midlands biggest free music festival and is currently in its 16th year. Last year it attracted a record 125,000 visitors.

The event not only features live music but comedy, family attractions and children’s entertainment.

Playing in her home city on the main stage at this year’s event, singer Pauline Black is also looking forward to the festival.

She said: ‘‘Myself, Gaps and the rest of The Selecter are absolutely delighted to be performing at Godiva Festival 2014’s Main Stage.

“There is no city on earth where we’d rather be celebrating 35 years of The Selecter than the one where it all began, and where I still live.

Soul band Stone Foundation, who will also be bringing their own brand of ‘small town soul’ to the Friday night and are a well-respected live outfit who have also recently supported both The Specials and The Selecter on national tours.

Over the coming few weeks, event organisers are looking to make more band announcements.

• Coventry Godiva Festival runs from July 4 to 6. Admission free and the event is ticketless. More information is at the festival website.