Organisers of Stokesley’s TourFest Tour de Yorkshire festival have unveiled the line-up for their live music stages, which will be headlined by world-famous saxophonist Snake Davis.
Snake Davis, who has played all over the world with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, M People, James Brown and Ray Charles, will play with the popular Colin Holt Band performing a combination of their original music and also pop and soul classics.
Other artists already confirmed include singer and guitarist Val Boyers, rising local star Amelia Coburn, Beautiful South and Housemartins tribute ‘Old Red Eyes’ Andy Johnson, the Bilsdale Silver Band, Elaine Palmer, Doctor Brown and the BBC Young Musician of the Year Alexander Bone and his band.*
A host of activities is being organised as part of Stokesley TourFest when the market town welcomes the Tour de Yorkshire on the final day, Sunday May 1st, which will see the route pass through Stokesley High Street after setting off from Middlesbrough.
The parish council, local community and businesses are now well underway with preparations for the festive-style day which will see a programme of events to celebrate the race which expected to pass through the town around noon.
The High Street will be closed to traffic for the whole day with extensive car parking available on the Showfield. As well as the live music, a number of activities are being organised including, rides, street entertainers, food stalls, a mobile bar, marquees on The Green, official merchandise stalls, a children’s treasure trail and parades along the High Street.
The whole race will be shown live on a large, outdoor TV screen.
In addition, Stokesley Parish Council has launched a competition for local businesses in the run up to ‘Stokesley TourFest’. Businesses are already taking part in a special window-dressing competition in an attempt to make Stokesley the best dressed town on the Tour de Yorkshire route.
Parish Councillor, Malcolm Smallwood, has put together the live music stages. He said: “We want people to enjoy our town for the whole day and we’ve handpicked some of the very best local musical talent. We are delighted to have all of the bands and musicians on board to make our TourFest celebrations extra special and we’re really looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to Stokesley.”
The final day of the Tour de Yorkshire will see cyclists take a gruelling 123 mile route starting in Middlesbrough and passing through North Yorkshire, before finishing in Scarborough.
Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “It is fantastic to see the people of Stokesley getting behind the Tour de Yorkshire and making the most of this amazing opportunity. I am sure TourFest will be a roaring success.”
Ian Blakemore, a local businessman and a parish councillor, said: “TourFest is a really special opportunity for Stokesley and so many people are working exceptionally hard to make it a roaring success. The music line-up alone is phenomenal. We’re expecting over 5,000 visitors on the day and we really do want to make Stokesley the place to be- not just for the Tour de Yorkshire but afterwards as well as we are such a thriving market town.”
* The full line-up is as follows: –
Chill-out Tent on West Green
Val Boyers
Amelia Coburn
‘Old Red Eyes’ Andy Johnson
Al Aitchison
Davoc Brody
Acoustic Brew
Elaine Palmer
Main Stage on The Plain
Doctor Brown
Bonzo Dog Ends
The Sticklebacks
Alexander Bone and Band
Section 20
Colin Holt and Snake Davis
Bilsdale Silver Band