For a second year Wychwood Festival teams up with seven local BBC Introducing shows to programme the third stage 3rd – 5th June 2011, Cheltenham Race Course

After the success of the partnership in 2010, Wychwood Festival has once again teamed up with BBC Introducing to showcase and support music talent from seven BBC Introducing shows that surround the festival. Today the partnership announces 27 bands shortlisted by a panel of leading music journalists including legendary 70’s singer songwriter and now BBC 6 Music presenter Tom Robinson, Wychwood Festival director Graeme Merifield and festival media partner The Independent’s music editor, Elisa Bray. Poetry and more acts added to the already stellar line-up at this year’s Wychwood Festival.

Having showcased the talents of 28 of the UK’s finest new music, many of whom have gone on to perform across the UK and Europe, the BBC Introducing Stage at this year’s Wychwood Festival will once again set the standard for nurturing and supporting new talent. Seven of the surrounding BBC Introducing regions – Bristol, Coventry & Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcester, Oxford, Wales & Wiltshire each submitted 10 of their best bands or artists and after much deliberating by the panel of experts Wychwood Festival is delighted to announce the winning 27 bands. Each of the bands will not only get the chance to play at a critically-acclaimed UK music festival they will also have their performances recorded and broadcast by their local BBC station and an album of tracks from each of the 27 bands distributed for free courtesy of The Independent.

Wychwood Festival is also announcing a raft of poetry talent in the form of Angie Belcher, who’s highly accomplished comedic style has won her countless roles across television and the stage. Joining the poetic line up is Manchester based Michael Wilson, football fanatic Crispin Thomas and internationally renowned Giovanni Esposito otherwise known as Spoz who is well known for his imaginative and hilarious performance poetry as well as his talent for writing musicals.

Other poetry acts include the award winning Mab Jones; whose emphasis on audience enjoyment and sheer, bellyrumbling entertainment means everyone comes away laughing. Author of bestselling Lemon, Barnaby Eaton Jones, will also take to the stage alongside, Chris Fordwoh, Al Hutchins, Alison Brumfitt and Steve Rooney.  Complete with violins and harmonicas, My First Tooth will be bringing bags of energy to the main stage on Saturday 4th at Wychwood this year; they will be joined by Parisian based Sarah Savoy & the Francadians who give their history a good twist through their name. The group of musicians are mix of Louisiana and French influences as they add a new twist to traditional Cajun and Zydeco music.

The Big Top adds yet more terrific talent, Friday sees Babajack bring together tribal rhythms, searing harmonica and beautiful vocals to create a passionate folk and blues frenzy. Hailed by Wychwood BBC Introducing judge Tom Robinson, Revere will join the Big Top bands on Friday 3rd, treating audiences to an epic technicolor sound. BBC favourites Rook & The Ravens and Shaun Bruswell also join Friday’s Big Top line-up. After recently releasing their first album, Sleeping with the Fishes will return to Wychwood for a second year to perform in the Big Top on Saturday 4th. Adding to Sunday’s eclectic offering is Will Kevans who gained critical acclaim in 2010 with his first album Everything You Do. Edgy pop singer Mila Falls will be keeping festival goers up till dawn with her fantastic sounds along with London band Handshake.

For the first time, bands from the University of Gloucester will keep revellers entertained throughout the early evening as they present three nights of glistening new music featuring, Midnight Mile, 23 year old Joe Summers who is hailed as folk’s next ‘big thing’, The Humdees, Ellie Dussek and Emmett Brown among others. Widely regarded as the UK’s most family friendly festival, Wychwood has been nominated for the ‘Best Family Festival’ award at the UK Festival Awards every year since its launch.