Youth Beatz Festival aims to start the Dumfries and Galloway summer holidays on a high with the announcement of the full line up of acts featuring at this year’s festival! Celebrating its 10th anniversary and will be a key event in Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, the festival has just announced the additional acts joining headliners who are all coming back to perform.
On Saturday 30th June, TINCHY STRYDER, BARS & MELODY, and BASSHUNTER will join headliner SIGALA, who will be supported by JAX JONES and KELLI-LEIGH.
Sunday 1st July sees S CLUB and NICHOLAS MCDONALD return to the Youth Beatz stage, joining headliner RUDIMENTAL and support MAGGIE LINDEMANN and LUCY SPRAGGAN.
Vice Chair of Nithsdale Area committee, Provost Tracey Little, said “Youth Beatz and the Toon are a keystone of our Council’s annual programme of events, and has such a large impact of the people and communities in Dumfries and Galloway. The breadth of activities and performances delivered through the festival are amazing, and this year more than ever really will provide something for all ages. I am delighted that Nithsdale Area Committee has again part funded the event, showing our commitment to providing opportunities for the people of Nithsdale and Dumfries and Galloway. I look forward to the festival with great anticipation and I am sure it will build on its previous successes in order to make it the best Youth Beatz yet.”
The event will look to attract 8-26 year olds from across Scotland, but as part of the expansion of the event for Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, there will also be a children’s zone – Youth Beatz Kidz. Here, the fantastic headline act FUNBOX, along with local acts including MOLLY MIXTURE, SUSI SWEETPEA, and DAFFY DILL will provide the entertainment, so make sure all the family get a ticket! Accompanying the fantastic live acts, there will also be a range of activities such as arts & crafts, pottery, soft play and the bubble zone.
There is a brand new comedy tent, acoustic village; a developed youth work zone, young entrepreneurs’ marketplace, display zone – along with long standing favourites in the inflatables zone and the fairground rides!
Youth Beatz have also announced that the expanded festival will include a 2nd performance stage called “UPLOAD” that will provide 32 performance slots for young musicians from around Scotland to show off their talent. The main Youth Beatz days will be the highlight to end an 8 day Fringe Festival that will see a large number of community based events run over the Nithsdale area.
Back again, for Youth Beatz 10th Anniversary is The Toon, the interactive youth issue based drama production. Written, designed and delivered by young people to address issues affecting them – this will definitely not be one to miss! Get your tickets at the Toon Box Office onsite over the weekend.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Young People’s Champion, Councillor Adam Wilson, said “Our Council is delighted to see its Year of Young People 2018 programme going from strength to strength. The full line up of Youth Beatz 2018 that has been announced is a great show of the diverse talent that Youth Beatz has attracted over the years and is sure to prove popular with lucky ticket holders. Coupled with the popular Fringe Festival running for 8 days prior to the two event days, and the interactive hard hitting drama The Toon will also be making a highly anticipated return, this is sure to once again be a high quality experience that has played a leading role on educating our young people on a host of social issues and that the people of Dumfries and Galloway have come to enjoy so much..”
The award winning event is managed through a partnership led by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Young Peoples Service, in conjunction with the Oasis Events Team. Formed in 2010, the Oasis Events Team have undergone a great deal of training and events experience and now work in close partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Young Peoples Services staff to co-design large scale events, such as Youth Beatz. The Events Team are also now training up the new youth members of the group in a peer led approach.
The event is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s events directorate. Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said “We are delighted to be supporting Youth Beatz Festival to expand its offering during its special 10th anniversary year as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People celebrations. The event, which offers a fantastic range of opportunities and entertainment for young people and their families truly offers something for everyone. Whether it’s enjoying the array of headline acts, sampling the comedy on offer or visiting the young entrepreneurs’ marketplace, the event is the perfect way to kick-start the summer holidays and reinforces Scotland as the perfect stage for events.”
Youth Beatz 2018 is a free festival and tickets are available online now from the official Youth Beatz website – www.youthbeatz.co.uk
