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Lightning Seeds and Kate Nash headline Stendhal Festival

BBC The Lightning Seeds performing on the Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2023 on Friday 23 June 2023BBC
The Lightning Seeds have twice topped the UK singles chart

The Lightning Seeds and Brit award winning singer-songwriter Kate Nash are among the headline acts at this year's Stendhal Festival.

The annual summer event runs from 4 to 6 July on Ballymully Cottage Farm near Limavady, County Londonderry.

The festival bill also includes comedian Ed Byrne, country singer Lisa McHugh, The Orb and Joshua Burnside.

Now in its15th year, organisers say the line-up balances established names with the very best up-and-coming acts.

"We have grown from a daydream into the island of Ireland's largest and longest-running independent festival and we can't wait to celebrate that with everyone this summer," festival director Ross Parkhill said.

Shows a festival worker and two women wearing flowers in their hair
The three-day festival has been going since 2011 and attracted abou12,000 people last year

What is Stendhal?

Stendhal Festival is an annual outdoor event featuring music, comedy, dance, poetry, workshops and family-friendly fun.

Its name is a reference to Stendhal syndrome - a psychological condition resulting in dizziness experienced by people exposed to things of great beauty.

The festival is situated in the picturesque rural setting of Ballymully Cottage Farm in Roe Valley, about three miles outside the town of Limavady.

Also, uniquely for Northern Ireland's music scene, the festival features a campsite for ticket holders to stay on site.

Who else is performing this year at Stendhal?

Joshua Burnside in grey trousers and a blue check shirt, pictured in front of drums, a computer and other musical equipment
Joshua Burnside is returning to Stendhal in 2025

Among the confirmed acts announced on Friday are DJ Marc McCabe who is set to make his Stendhal debut and Mercury and Choice Award nominated singer-songwriter Fionn Regan.

As well as Joshua Burnside a number of Northern Irish acts are also confirmed including The Woodburning Savages, The Florentinas, Duke Special, Huartan, Problem Patterns and The Bonnevilles.

All Folk'd Up, Junior Brother, Bog Bodies, Bicurious, Nerves and Babyrat are also on the line-up.