The UK’s biggest retro festival brand Let’s Rock have announced the headliners and performers for Let’s Rock Wales, happening Saturday May 27 at Cardiff’s Bute Park.
Let’s Rock Wales 2023 will be headlined by Soft Cell and Wet Wet Wet in an incredible line-up which also includes Tony Hadley, Imagination, Nik Kershaw, Go West, Heather Small, Heatwave, Hue & Cry, Five Star and many more.
Electronic music pioneers Marc Almond & Dave Ball aka Soft Cell have sold over 10million albums worldwide and enjoyed twelve UK Top 40 hits in the early ‘80s, including their mega global No.1 smash “Tainted Love” plus further Top 5 singles “Bedsitter”, “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” and “Torch.” The duo reformed in 2018 to play a stunning sold-out reunion show at London’s 02 and this year released their first album of new material in two decades, the critically acclaimed ‘*Happiness Not Included.’ The past twelve months have also seen Soft Cell tour their legendary 1981 debut album ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret,’ playing it in full for the very first time. Soft Cell’s debut Let’s Rock summer 2023 headline shows will be their first outdoor festival shows since 2003.
Marc Almond & Dave Ball (Soft Cell) said today: “We are delighted to be headlining so many Let’s Rock festivals in 2023. We’re playing Wales, Northern Ireland, Shrewsbury, Exeter and Southampton for the first time ever as Soft Cell, as well as in our spiritual home of Leeds, and look forward to seeing everyone at this great festival.”
A celebration of all things pop and ‘80s, Let’s Rock offers gloriously unpretentious non-stop fun, with legendary musicians performing hit after hit to a crowd of all ages many of whom come dressed in their finest ‘80s fashion. Each of the one-day festivals, which happen all over the UK from May until September, features two headline acts plus a host of stars from the era when pop ruled the world.
After two very challenging, pandemic-hit summers, 2022 saw the return of a full schedule of Let’s Rock festivals for the first time since 2019, drawing a combined audience of over 150,000 across the thirteen festival sites. In an exciting development, 2023 will see Let’s Rock partner with the national digital radio station Absolute 80s. Let’s Rock have also launched Let’s Rock Radio, a digital station where you can hear tracks from all your favourite Let’s Rock performers all day, every day.
Let’s Rock organisers and founders Nick Billinghurst & Matt Smith said today; “It was truly humbling to have everyone back at Let’s Rock this summer after two difficult year – and it means the world to us that our loyal audience has stuck with us. We’re already looking forward to 2023 and are proud to announce what we hope you’ll agree is a spectacular line-up for Let’s Rock Wales. See you next summer!”
Let’s Rock works with many amazing charities including official charity partner Child Bereavement UK, who support families and educate professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a family is facing bereavement. Since partnering with UK Live in 2014, Child Bereavement have managed to raise over £800,000 at the Lets Rock Festivals, an amazing accomplishment.
Child Bereavement UK Community Projects Manager Lorna Murchi comments: “I’m absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to everyone who attended the Let’s Rock festivals and gave so generously in aid of Child Bereavement UK this year. Every bit of change popped in a collection tin, wristband or raffle ticket purchased and auction bid paid, adds up and makes a huge difference to the bereaved children, parents and families we support across the UK. To give some perspective, £130,000 could fund our national helpline for over four months, giving a lifeline to families when they need it most. Thank you for your wonderful support this year!”
Let’s Rock is a family-friendly festival; children can enjoy complimentary activities within the ‘Kids’ Kingdom’ area with an interactive circus, face painting, inflatables and more. For adults, there are multiple bars and a ‘Club Tropicana’ VIP area, plus of course the all-important posh loos.
