minety music festival – devizine.com

The mighty mighty Minety Music Festival announced The Bluetones as their Sunday headliner at their Eames Laurie Main Stage, and The Dub Pistols on the Saturday…..

It’s not unspoken, we LOVE Minety Music Festival here at Devizine and don’t care who knows! It never fails to attract with some superb renowned names, and then throws in a plethora of local acts either established or upcoming, and in doing so creates a marvellous atmosphere where local music is supported via the followings of international headliners.

Formed in London in 1996 by Barry Ashworth, the Dub Pistols are a renowned British collective fusing dub, reggae, ska, hip-hop, and electronic music, and the party rockers will be headlining the Saturday.

“We’re super excited and have wanted to bring The Dub Pistols to Minety for around three years,” chief organiser Rich Swatton tells us, “and this time, the stars have finally aligned. If you know, you know, and if you don’t know… speak to someone who knows. You’re going to love this!”

The Bluetones first came to prominence in 1995, when their debut release ‘Are You Blue Or Are You Blind?’ broke into the top 40. The single proved to be the launching pad for a run that saw 14 hit singles and 6 albums follow on from it. They headline Sunday.

The Bluetones, formed in Hounslow, are made up of brothers Mark & Scott Morriss, alongside Adam Devlin and Eds Chesters, enjoyed considerable UK and Ireland successes, extending out across into Europe and Japan, before taking a hiatus in 2011 that lasted for 4 years. Since then they have re-established themselves as one of the UK’s most consistently entertaining live acts, regularly touring their extensive catalogue to their army of devoted fans.

2024 saw the release of the first new Bluetones material in 14 years; a renaissance that saw the four original band members take in the summer festivals, before a full UK tour in the autumn/winter of 2024.

The release of ‘London Weekend Television’ in 2025 saw them reaffirm themselves as indie-pop royalty, and 2026 sees the band celebrate the 30th anniversary of Platinum selling album ‘Expecting To Fly’, famed for hit singles, such as ‘Bluetonic’, ‘Slight Return’ and Cut Some Rug’.

“We can’t wait to welcome them to Minety Music Festival, for the very first time,” Rich said, “you’re in for a real treat!”

Minety is near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and is happening from 2nd-5th July 2026. Tickets only available from: www.minetyfestival.co.uk/buy-tickets

Heaven’s holding a half moon tonight, a secret I’ve gotta spill, shining for all going to the Minety Music Festival in July….

Seeming not content with just awesome headliners The Fun Lovin’ Criminals on the Saturday evening, Toploader and The Stereo MCs on Sunday, organisers of this, which I hailed the best local festival last year, have confirmed the UK’s finest nineties soul ensemble, The Brand New Heavies will bless their stage on Sunday….

Debuting in 1990, The Brand New Heavies may not be so new any longer, but they’re still the heavy, funky acid jazz pioneers who toured last year to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of their ground-breaking 1994 album Brother Sister. Propelled by the classic singles Dream On Dreamer, and Maria Muldaur’s Midnight At The Oasis, the record achieved huge success (a #4 chart position, over a million sales and a BRIT nomination) as they cemented their position as the pioneers of Acid Jazz.

Featuring original members Andrew Levy and Simon Bartholomew, with the phenomenal vocalist Angela Ricci, the The Brand New Heavies continue today, and make for a brilliant end to what looks to be the festival worthy of your hard-earned cash.

Fun Lovin’!

Heavies, brand new or not, is not the reason I loft Minety on such a high pedestal. Yeah, they book universal big names to headline, but the whole community feel, affordable markets, food and drinks, so much for the younger attendees, and so much more so, their devotion to upcoming local live music is something to behold.

Set over four stages, there’s a plethora of great acts, from tributes to The Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols and The Police, to many of the original local artists we’ve praised right here on Devizine; I See Orange, M3G, The Vooz, Jimmy Moore, SN Dubstation, Bottle of Dog, and those The Real Cheesemakers, naturally! Plus of course, many other bands new to us, which I’ll endeavour to catch as many as I can between chilling at the Incapable Staircase tent.

Midnight though, I hope there’s an international time zone between Minety and the Oasis, because the cider there is affordable, and I’m not sure if I’ll hold out for that long!