Line-ups confirmed for Blackpool iFest Saturday and Sunday

A host of top music and comedy stars are lined up for Blackpool’s new-look Illuminations Switch-On Weekend.

VisitBlackpool has confirmed that the Saturday of the Blackpool iFest weekend will feature a line-up of chart-topping pop stars in association with Sky’s Vintage TV channel. The line-up includes Bananarama, Jason Donovan and Paul Young, and will be hosted by TV and radio star, Pat Sharp.

Then on Sunday, some of the coolest names in British comedy will take to the stage, with one of the most recognisable and successful comics in the UK, Al Murray – The Pub Landlord, hosting and headlining the show.

The events are part of the weekend-long Blackpool iFest celebration,  which marks the annual switching on of the world famous Blackpool Illuminations on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September at the Blackpool Tower Festival Headland.

Saturday night stars, Bananarama, said: “We are really excited to be a part of the Vintage ifest Festival this year and bring our performance to Blackpool- we have a lot of fans from that area so are looking forward to entertaining them and being a part of this great event’.

Tickets, priced at £15 for each of the Saturday and Sunday shows, go on sale on Friday morning at 9am. At the same time, up to 5,000 people will be able to buy a £30 weekend festival pass which gives access to both concerts AND guaranteed entry to the big Friday night Switch-On party which will again feature some of the biggest names in music and a very special Switch-On celebrity.

A ballot to win the remaining 15,000 tickets for the FREE Friday night event is also now open at www.visitblackpool.com/switchon with a maximum of four tickets per household available so register now!

Last year, around 80,000 people applied for tickets to attend the spectacular Friday night event which featured an incredible line-up of stars including Britain’s biggest girl band, Little Mix, Pixie Lott, Union J, George Ezra and the big Switch-On by superstar comedian, Peter Kay.

Alan Cavill, Blackpool Council’s Director of Place, said: “We’ve put together a fantastic line-up of for Blackpool iFest.

“The Saturday night will be a tremendous evening of light-hearted fun and vintage pop.

“The Sunday night is truly ground-breaking with comedy coming to the Tower Festival Headland and the Comedy Carpet for the first-time ever.

“We’ve also still got the Friday night switch-on line-up yet to confirm which is set to be absolutely fantastic.

“I would urge people to book their tickets now for the full weekend, show their support for the illuminations which provide such a season-extending boost to our economy and guarantee themselves a ticket for Friday night.”

The Blackpool iFest line-up so far

Saturday 5th September

Legendary Fun House presenter Pat Sharp is set to bring “a whole lot of fun” to Blackpool iFest’s Saturday night show which is being held in association with Vintage TV.

The TV and radio star will welcome top vintage pop names to the stage including Bananarama Jason Donovan, Paul Young, Limahl, Owen Paul and T-Pau for a night that is sure to have a fun, party feel.

Sunday 6th September

Al Murray – The Pub Landlord brings comedy to Blackpool’s newest piece of public art – the Comedy Carpet – for the first time ever.

The event) will feature an hour-long set from Murray as well as performances from a number of other leading stand-up stars, including Chris Ramsey, Alun Cochrane, Tiff Stevenson, Carl Hutchinson and Craig Campbell.

The 2200 metre squared Comedy Carpet, which features iconic jokes and catchphrases from the most famous names in the comedy world, will make up a large part of the arena floor at the Blackpool Tower Festival Headland.

Ticketing

Weekend tickets and Saturday and Sunday tickets will be on sale on Monday 27 April from SEE Tickets and the VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre.  Tickets are priced £15 or a weekend ticket for £30.  To buy tickets, go to:

www.seetickets.com or telephone 0871 220 0260 calls cost 10p per minute plus standard network charges.

www.visitblackpool.com/shop or Tel: 01253 478222

Registration is now open for the ballot for tickets to the Friday night Switch-On event.

People can now put their name in the hat by registering at www.visitblackpool.com/switchon for their chance to win up to four tickets per household.

Last year, around 80,000 people applied for one of the 20,000 wristbands to attend the free Friday night event.

A total of 8,000 of these wristbands are being made available to local residents from an FY postcode – an increase of 2,000 on last year.

For more information on the Blackpool iFest Switch-On Festival Weekend and to register to be the first to hear about Friday’s Switch-On celebrations, go to www.visitblackpool.com/switchon
                                                                                                                                                               
ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Biographies and pictures of all artists are available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x2i4km1eksfbt6g/AADMN72Z1lWTUFMvnlZJs4Hpa?dl=0

For more information or to arrange interviews, please call Joe Robinson on 01253 477189.

VisitBlackpool is the tourism arm of Blackpool Council and is tasked with promoting the UK's most popular holiday destination to leisure and business visitors, both domestically and internationally.

• Blackpool Illuminations will shine nightly from 4 September to Sunday 8 November
• Blackpool Illuminations attracts more than four million visitors in 2014 to the resort
• The Illuminations display stretches for more than five miles
• Blackpool’s first electric lighting was in 1879 when just eight Siemens arc lamps illuminated the Promenade.  The effect was described by Victorian visitors as ‘artificial sunshine’.
• The Lights are credited to the pumping of more than £275 million into the local economy