Northampton band heads line-up for Beat Route Radio's 'stay at home' music festival

Northampton band Don't Drink the Water are headlining Beat Route Radio's latest festival hosted by the Northamptonshire community radio station on Sunday.

After two successful events featuring local acts and groups from three different continents, the third version will showcase artists playing from the safety of their homes this weekend (July 5).

Beat Route Radio's Ian Griffiths, who hosts Beat Route's morning show from 9-11am Monday to Friday said "Our first festival was a baptism of fire — 22 acts from all over the South of England played 30-minute live sessions over two days,

"it was amazing, we had nearly 15,000 listeners tune in and we just knew we had to do it again.

"The second attracted just over 17,000 listeners. Not bad for a local radio station working from a shed in the garden!

"So it was agreed with Fretsore Records — a good friend of the Beat Route — to hold a third virtual festival featuring many of their artists, who include Don't Drink The Water.

"We are overwhelmed to have Don't Drink The Water agree to headline the show and for other artists such as Ronan MacManus and Philip Rambow to join us."

Rushden-based Beat Route has an audience across the Nene Valley and is staffed entirely by volunteers and enthusiasts.

Their most recent festival also featured 22 bands but this time they playing live from Bangalore, both sides of the USA, Germany, Italy and Greece plus the UK.

Northampton band "Don't Drink The Water — formerly Cold Cold Heart — are a Northampton-based Americana / country-folk band fronted by father-son duo David and Ben O’Leary.

They will be playing live from the Beat Route patch and performance their debut single ‘Sally’s Got A Secret’ which is out now.

Seven other acts confirmed so far include Brand New Zeros, Philip Rambow, My Darling Clementine, Ooberfuse, Bob Collum, Jack Henderson, Junkboy, Matt McManamon.

You can tune in to the Beat Route Radio / Fretsore Virtual Festival from 2pm until 10pm on Sunday July 5 by visiting www.beatrouteradio.co.uk and clicking on "Listen Live"