The Human League and the late Bob Marley's band The Wailers feature in a great line-up announced for this year's Chichester Real Ale And Jazz Festival.
Festival spokesman Stuart Pembery said: "We are particularly pleased to have these two big bands and also two big party nights.
"Putting on an event like the Real Ale And Jazz Festival, it helps that we have done it before. We have got a very goo
d reputation in the market over the years which makes it easier to get the bigger bands."
Stuart is also reporting a positive response to news of the festival's changes in format this year which sees it switch to Friday and Saturday of successive July weekends rather than running straight through over successive nights.
The festival kicks off on Friday, July 3, with The Magic of Motown with a talented cast bringing to life the hits of the Four Tops, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Jacksons, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and many more.
"Million-selling hit song follows million-selling hit song in one spectacular Queen's Award-nominated stage show celebrating the world's most popular record label – Tamla Motown," Stuart said.
The Magic of Motown will be supported by The Jive Aces featuring a combination of their own original tunes in true swing style as well as fresh arrangements of songs from the swing era – classics made famous by greats such as Louis Prima (Just A Gigolo), Louis Jordan (Five Guys Named Mo), Cab Calloway (Minnie The Moocher), Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong.
Saturday afternoon, July 4, brings a Bavarian Beerfest with an authentic oompah band, while the evening brings The Human League, (above), originally an avant-garde all-male synthesizer-based group from Sheffield.
The only constant band member since 1977 is vocalist and songwriter Philip Oakey.
"They have continued recording and performing throughout the 1980s up to the present day," Stuart said.
"Since 1987, the band has essentially been a trio of Oakey and long-serving female vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley (who joined the band in 1980), with various additional musicians.
"The Human League have influenced many electro-pop, other synthpop, and mainstream acts. They have been sampled and covered by various artists including YMO, Ministry of Sound, Craig David, George Michael and Robbie Williams."
Friday, July 10, is a Best of British night featuring headliners Portsmouth-based The Silver Beatles, Who tribute Who's Who, The Bog Rolling Stones and Small Faces tribute The Small Fakers.
Saturday afternoon, July 11, brings Jazz In The Park featuring Max Collie Rhythm Aces, with The Wailers, (below), the biggest-selling reggae band of all time, providing the evening's big attraction.
With Bob Marley, the Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide.
In England alone, they've notched up more than 20 chart hits, including seven top ten entries.
Outside their groundbreaking work with Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with acts including Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana and Alpha Blondy.
"As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica's reggae tradition, the Wailers have completed innumerable other tours, playing to an estimated 24 million people across the globe.
"They have also been the first reggae band to tour new territories on many occasions, including Africa and the Far East."
Supporting them will be Hakuna Pesa (Swahili for 'no money'), a Ska band who play danceable songs in order to raise money to help street kids in Kenya.
"They return to the RAJF after a great 2007 session", Stuart said.
Tickets for the RAJF on
www.chichester-rajf.com