Billy Bragg steps into the breach

Billy Bragg

With just over two weeks to go, Birmingham’s Moseley Folk and Arts Festival (Friday 1 to Sunday 3 September 2023) have announced the addition of Billy Bragg to their line-up.

Joining Wilco and Stornoway on Sunday night’s bill, Billy steps in to replace The Proclaimers, who have unfortunately cancelled all their forthcoming dates due to ill health.

This year sees Billy Bragg mark 40 years with a decade-spanning collection, The Roaring Forty: 1983- 2023. Out in October, the release celebrates the remarkable and enduring musical legacy of the songwriter, principled activist and alternative national treasure. The collection will be available as a 14 disc CD box set featuring 300 tracks, as well as a single disc primer, and triple vinyl.

“It seems like just the other day that I was handing [Radio One DJ] John Peel a mushroom biryani and asking him to play my first record”, says Billy, who previously appeared at the festival in 2016 and 2011. “The music business has changed dramatically since then, but my belief in the power of the song is undimmed.”

Taking place at the picturesque Moseley Park Pool, Moseley, Birmingham, the annual festival features appearances from Squeeze, Graham Nash, Gwenno and Blindboy (Friday); and The Saw Doctors, The Mary Wallopers, Rozi Plain, Lou Sanders, Scott Matthews and Will Sergeant (Saturday); with the final day (Sunday) welcoming Billy Bragg, Wilco, Stornoway, Josh Pugh, Old Time Sailors, and Angeline Morrison.

Alongside the news of Billy’s appearance, Moseley Folk and Arts Festival has also revealed the full daily schedule, with performance times for each day now available on their website.

For more information, including tickets (which are now ‘limited’), see: moseleyfolk.co.uk

The Roaring Forty promo: