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Beat-Herder: Next festival could be best yet, co-founder says

Giles Smith Crowds throwing coloured powder at Beat-HerderGiles Smith
The event has become known as one of the country's best small festivals

An "incredibly strong" line-up and a "labyrinth of discovery and surprises" could make this year's Beat-Herder the best one yet, its co-founder has said.

Beat-Herder, which takes place near Sawley in Lancashire, has grown from humble beginnings to now be regarded as one of the UK's best small festivals.

Co-founder Nick Chambers said this year's event looked like being "very special".

"We can't wait for July to come around to enjoy it with everyone," he added.

The festival belatedly celebrated its 15th birthday edition in 2022 with headline sets from Hot Chip and Nile Rodgers and Chic and returned a year later with the top slots filled by Pendulum and Alison Goldfrapp.

Ruth Medjber OrbitalRuth Medjber
The festival will see sets from electronic legends Orbital and Leftfield as part of an "incredibly strong" line-up

Mr Chambers said while those bills were great, "this year might well be our strongest release yet".

"Stick a pin on the line-up poster, and it's a quality name," he said.

He said it would be "quite an electronic year" with sets from "giants" Leftfield, Orbital and Sub Focus, but there would also be "huge live acts like The Wailers, Crazy P and Brit Award nominee Venbee".

He said the "DJs bringing the beats" included Denis Sulta, Floorplan and Erol Alkan, while "massive names in drum and bass", such as Shy FX, Fabio & Grooverider and Goddard, were also lining up.

Giles Smith People at Beat-HerderGiles Smith
Mr Chambers said music festivals were something that Britain does well and he was excited to run Beat-Herder again

He added that he was delighted that the event, which runs from 18 to 21 July, was "coming around fast", as it was "when everyone is with us on the weekend that it's truly made".

"We merely build it; it's the people who come that make it and get to enjoy everything we create and offer at the festival," he said.

"If Britain does one thing well, it's the music festival - it's our culture, and the UK leads the world in music.

"This is where you get to immerse yourself in that world, and to have what we have here, in the North, is a very special thing for everyone.

"With a labyrinth of discovery and surprises for both first-timers and dedicated Herders, it's amazing to see the pure joy it brings."

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