Dr A's Blues Consortium (Main)

If you enjoy the very best of British and US Blues, then this 6-piece band will keep you enthralled with their eclectic selection of some of the great classics and many favourites, past and present. A great blues band to kick off this year’s entertainment. I know it’s early in the week, but they're not to be missed.

Shake Hands Eric (Main)

Mixing tight harmonies with the lyrical inflections of The Kinks and Merseybeat era pop classicism, Shake Hands Eric are as English sounding as a trip to the seaside. Formed early 2009, this four-piece’s pared-back acoustic arrangements and intricate voicings create music of a rare depth, warm emotional and with intellectual intelligence.

The Whisky Jax (Support)

'The Whisky Jax' are a talented, young four piece local up and coming Indie band, with a rapidly increasing fan base craving their unique sound and stage presence. The band have recently played to sell-out crowds not just in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, but also in the Midlands and London with successful gigs at 'The Purple Turtle' in Camden town and 'The Custard Factory' in Birmingham.

The Contrast (Main)

The Contrast’s sleek, edgy, chiming guitar pop embraces influences spanning folk, rock & roll, country, surf, psychedelia, 60s pop, jazz, punk and power pop, plus film noir, surrealism and sci-fi, wrapped up into irresistible 3-minute pop songs. It’s impossible to tie the band to any specific musical genre or movement, although, in view of their flamboyant, raw live shows, garage rock is perhaps the closest fit.
The Contrast was formed by Glasgow born singer / songwriter / guitarist, David Reid in 1999. From the start, Reid’s plan was a simple one: “to write & perform songs that I love as much as my favourite records, books and movies”. Since 2006, the band line-up has featured, alongside David Reid, Richard Mackman (bass/backing vocals), Thorin Dixon (drums) and Kieran Wade (rhythm guitar/backing vocals/keys) – all amazing players and all well able to match Reid’s encyclopaedic knowledge of pop history and slightly unhinged sense of the absurd..

Albany Down (Support)

The sound of Albany Down is stripped-down-to-the-waist no nonsense rhythm and blues with a bit of jazz-funk to mix it up. Paul Muir is the band's excellent front man - delivering powerful vocals with just the right balance of arrogance and angst. The bruiser in the porkpie hat is bassist, Billy Dedman -his bass play is fast and deadly. Drummer Jonny Bescoby is as fast as the white water at the Grand Rapids, after a heavy downpour. Paul Turley on lead guitar makes most of the magic happen on stage putting on an accomplished performance with a few daring and flaring Hendrix-style licks but reverts down to a sensible chug-a-chug chord or two when things are brimming. Albany Down can be counted on for insistent guitar hooks, stripped down licks and rattling good-time rock.

The League of Mentalmen (Main)

Following an amazing performance at last years Beer Festival we had so many requests to invite these boys back again this year. The League of Mentalmen was formed in March 2002 – prior to Mark joining the band, they were performing similar types of songs with a female singer (Shammi & the Leathers) but knew a male singer would give them more scope for the type of material they wanted to murder! (then came the idea of wearing women’s clothes for a laugh and they couldn’t have a singer who looked better than them!).
Like many bands LoM try and take a song and make it our own – in their case taking a standard pop song or ballad and making it faster and rockier than the original, though they have been known to slow it down and add a reggae feel! In addition, of course the odd original punk/metal cover for good measure…..anyway enough said their reputation precedes them.

The Replicas (Support)

Friday night at the Peterborough Beer Festival is undoubtedly the place to be with one of Peterborough's best live band "THE REPLICAS" geared up to entertain you with a fully entertaining set, that will literally have something for everyone. The band always give an energetic 100%, and play everything from, ska, punk, northern soul, dance, mod, 60's ... blimey the list goes on! Pitch up early and greet Les, Andy, Dave, Geoff and Luke to the stage, and be prepared to participate in what will undoubtedly be a great set. After all the aim of the band is to leave you with a taste of songs you remember, and a put smile on your face!

Who's Who (Main)

WHO’s WHO’s exciting live performances with Townshend’s leaping and Daltrey’s microphone whirling antics receive incredible reactions across Europe and beyond. But it’s not just about the theatrics; WHO’s WHO is widely recognised and respected by their musical peers and acknowledged within THE WHO hierarchy as a band that most interprets the songs of THE WHO with honesty and integrity.
Their interpretation of the original sound is widely regarded as the best (and closest) that anyone will ever get to evoke the feeling and energy of The Who at their peak! With the raw power, passion and soul of the members that make up WHO’s WHO, these guys deliver far more than your average “run of the mill” band. As history rolls on they have become an essential ingredient to the legacy of just what THE WHO have left their fans and the world.

Nimming Ned (Support)

“It’s infectious high energy folk” says Spiral Earth. “It’s gutsy acoustic folk rock” says Folkwords. It’s the sound made by two old gewgaws, who dared to crawl out of the seedy morass of the shires, to tell their tales of Nedling folklore. Played on electro acoustics - guitar & fretless bass - this duo captures the sound of the bars & the underground. They both heard the call: “Tell them about the scarecrows and the Bogey men too! They will listen. For the spirit of Nimming Ned is with you.”

Fallen Breaks (Support)

'A power trio, fusing Muse tones with Foo Fighters energy under catchy Beatles melodies'. Fronted by David Smith on lead vocals and guitar, Robert Bull on bass and John Wright on drums, Fallen Breaks have played extensively across the UK promoting their current E.P. 'Lovers in progress' for which they're receiving excellent reviews. Catch this band on a big stage where they belong.

Proto Inferno (Support)

Proto Inferno, a three-piece old-school British Metal band with all members deriving from Peterborough. Art and Soul Magazine quotes, 'Proto Inferno just have it all; they create a dark ambience that Ozzy Osbourne would be proud of!'. Featured in Guitarist Magazine is the lead vocalist/virtuosic guitarist Aaron Beeken, Warren Allett on bass and James Pepper on drums. The band has received fantastic reviews of the E.P. 'The Hour of Darkness'. Be sure to catch this group of talented musicians.

Smokescreen (Support)

Having had airplay on Bruce Dickinson's Rock Show, numerous reviews from the likes of Total Rock, three self financed mini-albums and clocking up in excess of 200 gigs in the process, Smokescreen are set to supply Peterborough with a sound similar to Pantera mixed with Black Sabbath! Smokescreen have proven for over ten years to be the band of choice so make sure you see what all the hype is about!

Stringfinger (Support)

Headlining the afternoon, Stringfinger are Peterborough's Rap Metal enthusiasts that provide a little bit of something for everyone all at the same time! Offering a set that has clear influences from hip-hop, thro’ rock, to funk blends fluidly to create the distinctive Stringfinger sound. They are supported by many fans across the area so come down and join in on the action too.