Darwen Live, Lancashire’s premier FREE festival, announces The South as Sunday 25th May 2014 headliners. On stage at 8:30pm! They join the likes of Merry Hell and The SoulTrain over a great music weekend around the town.

When great British pop institution, The Beautiful South split in 2006, several members of the band weren't ready to let it go.  So 2 years later, singers Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler, alongside life long members Damon Butcher (keys), Gaz Birtles (sax) and Tony Robinson (trumpet), came out of retirement and formed the 9 piece band, The South.  With the realisation that if the fans didn't want it, they wouldn't do it, The South embarked on their journey.  But boy, did the fans want it!  And still do.  Those classic songs live on.  Songs such as A Little Time - the bands number one single - sung by Dave Hemingway, just one of the many highlights in a 20 year career.  Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Old Red Eyes, Good as Gold, Don't Marry Her.  All performed again live, as they have been doing since 1989!

A few years further down the line The South now have their debut album under their belt.  A self-financed labour of love, Sweet Refrains unveils their own brand of irresistible pop melodies laced with twists of caustic wit and opens another new chapter started by The Beautiful South.

The Darwen Live annual music festival will take place for the 15th time on Sunday 25th and Monday 26th May 2014. Darwen Live is one of the largest free-to-attend music events in the north of England, with the main stage arena hosting acts on Sunday and Monday.

2014 will encompass 14 stages, 120 performing acts and attract over 20,000 people into Darwen town centre to enjoy two amazing days of live music and arts.

Darwen Live 2014

Town Hall, Croft Street, Darwen, Lancashire. BB3 1BQ

Starts: Sun 25th to Mon 26th May 2014

Tickets: This is a FREE event