Arts & Culture
Big acts line up for Forest Live 2018!

A host of big acts are heading to Westonbirt Arboretum this month for a series of open air concerts - part of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live 2018 events.

First up, on Thursday 14 June are Dublin’s finest, The Script. One of the world’s most popular bands, they have sold more than 29 million records. Their latest release, ‘Freedom Child’, topped the UK Official Albums Chart and scored the band their fourth UK No 1 album. This success replicates earlier outings with albums such as ‘The Script’; ‘Science and Faith’ and ‘No Sound Without Silence’ and anthemic pop/rock singles including ‘We Cry’; ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’; ‘For The First Time’; ‘Hall Of Fame’ (featuring will.i.am) and ’Superheroes’. The Irish three-piece are also one of the biggest live acts, having sold over 1.4 million tickets across 203 headline shows.

And taking to the stage on Friday 15 June are Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott - along with special guest Billy Bragg.

Paul Heaton, one of the UK’s most successful songwriters with some 10 million album sales under his belt, first came to public attention in the early 80s as front man of Hull-based indie poppers The Housemartins. Heaton went on to form The Beautiful South with lead vocalist Jacqui Abbott. She sang many of their signature hits including ‘Rotterdam’, ‘Perfect 10’, ‘Don’t Marry Her’ and ‘Dream A Little Dream’.  The Forest Live gigs will see them play material from their albums as a duo and songs from The Beautiful South and the Housemartins.

On Saturday 16 June - BRIT nominated Paloma Faith will wow the crowds. She will be singing songs from her acclaimed album ‘The Architect’. 

And Sunday June 17 George Ezra, one of the biggest selling male artists of the decade, will be performing.

His debut album Wanted On Voyage is certified 4x platinum in the UK, and was amongst the top 10 biggest selling artist albums in this country in both 2014 and 2015, reaching #1 in the Official UK Chart. In little more than 18 months Ezra went from virtual unknown to one of the international breakthrough artists of recent times: taking in a top 10 album in 10 countries

For more information, log on to www.forestry.gov.uk or call the box office on 03000 680400.