Plus James Walsh, lead singer of massive Brit Indie band Starsailor will be headlining the acoustic stage as part of the three day indie/alternative music, comedy and arts festival, which takes place at the West Mid/Shropshire Showground from September 13 to 15.
Bristol born Size is a British record producer and DJ, who came to prominence in the late 90s as the founder and leader of Reprazent, a drum and bass collective. That year the act won the Mercury Prize for their album New Forms. He will be DJing on the Saturday night of the festival, now in its third year.
Much of the acclaim centered on Size’s melding of jungle beats accompanied by live drums and double bass is equally informed by hip-hop, funk, soul and house.
Size rose to fame after setting up a home studio and buying a sampler, before meeting up with DJ Krust in the early 90’s and setting up their own music label.
The Mercury Prize Winning album New Forms which was re-released in 2008. ‘Brown Paper Bag’ is a signal all ravers still respond to and ‘Heroes’ and ‘Watching Windows’ are also modern day classics. The album went platinum putting the band firmly on the international circuit.
Size has also released solo album ‘Touching Down’ and worked with artists including Beverley Knight and performed at all major UK festivals including Glastonbury, Bestival and Lovebox.
Joining Roni Size as part of the latest announcements is James Walsh, now a solo artist in his own right. Walsh will headline the music on the Sunday of the festival performing a Starsailor acoustic set (September 15) which also plays host to The Sunday Jestival, when a plethora of comedians will take to the stage including headliner Dylan Moran.
After almost a decade with Starsailor, James Walsh has emerged as a singer-songwriter in his own right, with an acoustic guitar and new music. Earlier this year Walsh launched his brand new EP ‘Time is Nigh’ on iTunes and is a reflection on the past couple of years experience for him.
Starsailor was launched into stardom and heralded as the “new Coldplay” releasing four studio albums including debut ‘Love is Here’ which reached number two in the British music charts and ‘On the Outside’ which sold over three million copies and spawning hits such as ‘Good Souls’, ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Lullaby’. The band also supported U2 and Manic Street Preachers and Doves and won an NME award.
The two latest act announcements will be joining acts already announced including overall Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival headliners, Maximo Park along with The 1975, Athlete, Sister Bliss of Faithless and K Klass. The acts announced so far will be part of around 100 acts to play across the family friendly event complete with camping and a community area.
Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival Director Dene Edwards, said: “We have nearly finished making announcements but are thrilled to have secured Roni Size and James Walsh. These very different acts have both achieved huge success in their careers and are still producing massive tunes.
“Size has such a cult following and has really paved the way for his genre of music. He will really bring the house down in our dance tent. While Walsh is renowned for his enormous yet fragile voice and was an amazing front man in of one Britpop’s foremost acts.”
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