Today, Manchester legends JAMES join the star-studded line-up for South Facing Festival as the band celebrates four incredible decades together. What’s more, JAMES will be joined by special guests, HAPPY MONDAYS for what’s set to be an unforgettable summer’s day with music from two legendary bands at Crystal Palace Bowl, London.
One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, JAMES have released a huge 16 studio albums, with over 25 million copies sold in their recent run of Top 5 albums, in what’s a golden era for the band. All The Colours Of You released in 2021 was the band’s most critically acclaimed in years and in the same year, the band’s arena tour was the biggest selling and most successful to date. In November 2022, the band announced their ‘James Lasted’, which sold out in just one day, and the release of a double album, happening in 2023. Both featuring a full orchestra and gospel choir in celebration of the band’s 40th Anniversary.
Formed in Salford, HAPPY MONDAYS are known and loved as one of the most influential bands of the 80s and 90s. Acid house, funk, psychedelia and indie collided and with that, the HAPPY MONDAYS became an important part of Manchester’s music scene. With timeless hits including Kinky Afro, and Twenty Four Hour Party People, the Happy Mondays have embarked on world tours garnering international acclaim, as well as continued massive success in the UK which remains as potent as ever to this day.
Together, two giants of British music join forces this August at the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl for a South Facing that’s not to be missed. They join the line-up for South Facing 2023 which includes NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS, RUDIMENTAL, FIRST AID KIT and CRAIG DAVID with more still to come.
South Facing Festival is the capital’s biggest series of open-air concerts from the biggest names in music, taking over the Crystal Palace Bowl – a venue rooted in South London and steeped in musical history. Since its debut in 2021, South Facing Festival marks a new era in outdoor entertainment with an unbeatable line-up with artists spanning the worlds of rap, indie, rock, pop, classical and more.
