A pair of hotly tipped Leeds bands making their first festival appearance of the summer in North Yorkshire alongside The Wailers and Ruts DC... The 60’s psychedelia influenced trio Ravens and rising stars Hope & Social are due to play the fifth Willowman Festival in North Yorkshire which runs from 19 – 22 June.

The high profile live summer date follows the release of their debut EP Sound of Ravens and the launch of their first video for the track Brothers.

Meanwhile six piece rock band Hope & Social will be playing the best from their four studio albums.

Ravens are looking forward to playing on the bill with punk legends Ruts DC and Bob Marley’s iconic backing band The Wailers festival which has gained a national reputation for offering an eclectic line up of both new and established artists, while keeping ticket prices affordable.

The appearance of The Wailers is expected to draw the biggest crowd yet to the family friendly festival at Hillside Rural Activities Park in Knayton, near Thirsk.

The weekend bill also includes Icicle Works frontman Ian McNabb, festival crowd pleaser Radical Dance Faction, Mountain of Love, featuring two founding members of Alabama 3, up and coming psychedelic band New Electric Ride and folk rockers Pikey Beatz.

Ravens frontman Richard McTague said: “Already 2014 is building up to be a great year for us with some brilliant press feedback, BBC airplay and a festival date to top it. Willowman is a wonderful traditional rock festival where bands and fans mix together.  As well as playing we are looking forward to having a great time watching the other bands.”

The video and EP release mark another exciting development in Ravens’ fledgling career and they now find themselves being championed by various national media including Shindig! Magazine and Louder Than War plus the lead track ‘Brothers’ has just been selected by Tom Robinson for his ‘BBC6 Music Mixtape’.

Ravens have also been making waves on the radio in the US and Canada and were picked up by Arthur Lee and Love’s former management following a series of high profile UK shows with Jack Bruce, Trembling Bells and Natalie McCool.

The Ravens’ sounds is very much immersed in 60s psychedelia, especially early Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.

The ‘Brothers’ film, which has already been described as “21st Century Psychedelia”, is the brainchild of director Howard Ashley Storey and producer Lee Isserow.

Howard said: “I was lucky enough to hear 'Brothers' as a demo early last year and thought it was best song I’d heard in years. Lee and I felt the best approach was to come up with a video that we thought it would deserve and in doing so have put together something that we consider to be our best work to date.

“The song is timeless. There are a wealth of influences with a truly English sound which I think our video compliments perfectly. Echoes of Eleanor Rigby, Terry Gilliam and Oliver Postgate throughout, it is modern with a real retro feel and like Ravens music, will stand the test of time for many years.”

Willowman Festival takes place from Thurs 19th to Sum 20th June

Tickets available from HERE.