Home-grown star headlines Northampton Town Festival

The Northampton Town Festival heads to the Racecourse this weekend for two days of live music and entertainment.
Billy LockettBilly Lockett
Billy Lockett

The Saturday night will headlined by Billy Lockett who is playing his first official hometown show in two years while the Sunday will be headlined by Mystic Crew.

Lockett released his latest EP Burn It Down earlier this year and recently performed at designer Joshua Kane’s London fashion show.

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“It feels great to be headlining Northampton town festival,” he said.

“I hadn’t played a hometown show since headlining the Northampton Music Festival back in 2014, and felt this was a perfect reason to do a home show.

“I’m over the moon to be coming home for a night.”

Lockett has spent the past two years “hidden in a cellar” recording material for his debut album and recently moved to Camden in London.

“Being thrown in the deep end I think is healthy,” he explains about his move south.

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“I’ve been quite lucky to have been picked up by a big management team and top fashion designer Joshua Kane which has thrown me into London press after only a few months of being here.

“I felt I’d achieved everything I could in Northampton and I’m finding it really fun slowly concurring London.”

Kane heard Lockett’s track Burn it Down and asked him to play at his recent fashion show and the two have since developed a strong friendship.

Looking back at the EP, Lockett said: “I’ve been overwhelmed. I only put the EP out as a teaser of what’s to come and it’s had around 200,000 plays on Spotify alone.

“It’s nice to know my new sound is clicking with people!

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“The album still hasn’t got a release date although it’s finished, I love it, I’m so proud of what me and my producer a Phil Clark have achieved, it’s worth the wait.

“After being on tour for three years non-stop then losing my dad, I felt stopping touring and coming home and just writing was the best thing for me – a sort of healing process.

“I’ve come out the other side now and am as ready as I’ll ever be to get back out on the road again with this new band and sound.

“I couldn’t think of better place than my hometown to launch it all.”

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Other acts playing the Saturday include Spotlights, Das Boaty McBoatface, Yellow Dog, Rock Choir, Repro Jam, Mowbeck, Jono and the Uke Dealers and the Cool Jazz Collective.

The Sunday will feature Nothing Scientific, Joe Corkham, Soul Mo Funk, Donnybrook Fair, Woodford Scott Band, Howling Owls, Real Live Owls and kings Gambit.

Admission to both days is free. Visit www.northamptontownfestival.com for full details of all the activities taking place across the weekend.