Music Lineup Announced For The Surf Relief Festival’s Sunset Sessions At Watergate Bay

Organisers of the Surf Relief Festival have unveiled the lineup for the Sunset Sessions on Saturday 18th July.

Cornish funk outfit Skintight will headline the Sunset Sessions at Watergate Bay, drawing to a close the free festival which combines professional surfing and surf lifesaving competitions, family activities and much more.

Skintight will be supported by two emerging new acts: young London hillbillies The Blind Hearts, and country rock singer-songwriter Garron Frith.

“The Sunset Sessions has become a key element of the Surf Relief Festival in recent years, and adds another dimension to the festival to make it much more than just another surf event,” said Dave Manley, Chairman of Surf Relief UK.

“All of the acts performing at the Sunset Sessions are seasoned live performers and were selected based on their reputation to deliver great live sets. The whole event is completely free to attend, and the bands will round off what promises to be a great day on the beach.”

Opening the bill is Garron Frith, a singer-songwriter from the North West of England. Frith’s debut album was recorded in various hotel rooms, studios and houses everywhere from London, San Francisco, Spain to Manchester. It features 10 acoustic-based songs with a wide range of musicians from Grand Drive, The Willard Grant Conspiracy, and Green on Red’s Chuck Prophet.

The album received critical acclaim, with the Sunday Express calling it a “Beautiful country rock gem of an album”. Radio and internet stations championed the album and this led to Garron being asked to open for The Saw Doctors, Imelda May, Glen Tilbrook and Midge Ure.

The Blind Hearts are a new band of young London hillbillies, all veterans of several signed acts. Live, the band’s shuffling rock’n’roll grooves boast all the British energy and swagger of Kasabian or the Stone Roses, uniquely fused with guitar work and harmonies that knowingly nod towards Americana greats like Little Feat, JJ Cale, Ryan Adams and Bob Dylan, proving that catchy tunes with big sing-a-long choruses can still be danceable.

Their cinematic songs take in tales of outlaws facing lynch mobs, generals in bunkers, mountain explorers, bankrupt gamblers, crying lovers, and framed prisoners. “It’s just about slaying your demons by singing your heart out”, says guitarist Dan Clark. “We get stuff off our chests and have a good time doing it”.

Inspired by the pantheon of funk greats, Skintight formed in 2006 when Paul Haywood (sax and vocals) and Bryan Ugalde (drums) experienced an inspirational gig by James Brown’s saxophonist, Maceo Parker.

After teaming up with renowned bassist Scott Coleman they started the hunt for like minded musicians - finding them in Chris Johnson (guitar) and Chris Burton (keys).

The band has built a reputation for writing and performing some amazing funk tunes that grip their audiences and fill them full of the same stuff that fuels this band. Skintight are looking forward to finishing off their first album, writing more great tunes and developing the sound in their studios.

As well as a great day out, this year’s Surf Relief Festival will also raise money for the charity’s SurfAble project which introduces youngsters with disabilities to surfing - an experience which for many proves to be life-changing. For more information go to www.surfable.co.uk

Full details about the Surf Relief Festival can be found at www.watergatebay.co.uk/surfrelief