Line-ups confirmed for Blackpool iFest Saturday and Sunday

VisitBlackpool has confirmed that the Saturday of the Blackpool iFest weekend will feature a line-up of chart-topping pop stars in association with Sky’s Vintage TV channel. The line-up includes Bananarama, Jason Donovan and Paul Young, and will be hosted by TV and radio star, Pat Sharp.

Then on Sunday, some of the coolest names in British comedy will take to the stage, with one of the most recognisable and successful comics in the UK, Al Murray – The Pub Landlord, hosting and headlining the show.

The events are part of the weekend-long Blackpool iFest celebration,  which marks the annual switching on of the world famous Blackpool Illuminations on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September at the Blackpool Tower Festival Headland.

Saturday night stars, Bananarama, said: “We are really excited to be a part of the Vintage ifest Festival this year and bring our performance to Blackpool- we have a lot of fans from that area so are looking forward to entertaining them and being a part of this great event’.

Tickets, priced at £15 for each of the Saturday and Sunday shows, go on sale on Friday morning at 9am. At the same time, up to 5,000 people will be able to buy a £30 weekend festival pass which gives access to both concerts AND guaranteed entry to the big Friday night Switch-On party which will again feature some of the biggest names in music and a very special Switch-On celebrity. A ballot to win the remaining 15,000 tickets for the FREE Friday night event is also now open at www.visitblackpool.com/switchon with a maximum of four tickets per household available so register now!

Last year, around 80,000 people applied for tickets to attend the spectacular Friday night event which featured an incredible line-up of stars including Britain’s biggest girl band, Little Mix, Pixie Lott, Union J, George Ezra and the big Switch-On by superstar comedian, Peter Kay.

Alan Cavill, Blackpool Council’s Director of Place, said: “We’ve put together a fantastic line-up of for Blackpool iFest. “The Saturday night will be a tremendous evening of light-hearted fun and vintage pop.“The Sunday night is truly ground-breaking with comedy coming to the Tower Festival Headland and the Comedy Carpet for the first-time ever.“We’ve also still got the Friday night switch-on line-up yet to confirm which is set to be absolutely fantastic.

“I would urge people to book their tickets now for the full weekend, show their support for the illuminations which provide such a season-extending boost to our economy and guarantee themselves a ticket for Friday night.”

Ticketing

Weekend tickets and Saturday and Sunday tickets will be on sale on Monday 27 April from SEE Tickets and the VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre.  Tickets are priced £15 or a weekend ticket for £30.  To buy tickets, go to: www.seetickets.com or Tel: 0871 220 0260 calls cost 10p per minute plus standard network charges.

 www.visitblackpool.com/shop or Tel: 01253 478222

Registration is now open for the ballot for tickets to the Friday night Switch-On event. People can now put their name in the hat by registering at www.visitblackpool.com/switchon for their chance to win up to four tickets per household.

Last year, around 80,000 people applied for one of the 20,000 wristbands to attend the free Friday night event.A total of 8,000 of these wristbands are being made available to local residents from an FY postcode – an increase of 2,000 on last year.

For more information on the Blackpool iFest Switch-On Festival Weekend and to register to be the first to hear about Friday’s Switch-On celebrations, go to www.visitblackpool.com/switchon