Music festival to return after decade-long break

Jean-Jacques Burnel from The StranglersImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

The Stranglers are among the headliners lined up for GuilFest on 29-30 June

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A family-friendly music festival is set to return after a decade-long break.

GuilFest will take place at Stoke Park, in Guildford, Surrey, on the weekend of 29-30 June, with the town’s very own The Stranglers as the headline act on the Saturday.

The iconic punk band, which formed as the Guildford Stranglers in 1974, are appearing as part of a 50th anniversary tour.

Festival organiser Tony Scott said: “We’ve been waiting a long time to get the show on the road again and everything has come together for 2024."

The festival will also feature former Eurovision runner up Sam Ryder, who is the headliner on the final night.

Also on the bill during the two-day festival are Black Grape, The Blockheads, the Bootleg Beatles, From the Jam and Eddie and the Hotrods.

GuildFest ran for 22 years until its last event in 2014.

Artists to have played at previous events include Van Morrison, Motörhead, Madness, Jools Holland and Paul Weller.

Mr Scott said: “GuilFest has a special place in many hearts and we’ve secured some fantastic acts for our first event back.”

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