Forever Young Festival: Squeeze announced as final headliner

London rockers Squeeze have been announced as the final headliner of Forever Young Festival 2023 today, joining Bananarama and Erasure's Andy Bell.

The British band have been active for over 40 years; formed by Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, Harri Kakoulli, Paul Gunn and a certain Jools Holland in 1974. Harbouring numerous different line ups, the band have ploughed their way through the late 70s, 80s and into the 21st century, still playing to a devoted fanbase. They supported Madness at Dublin's 3Arena last year, as a matter of fact.

Initially naming themselves Captain Trundlow’s Sky Company, Gunn was replaced by Gilson Lavis and released their debut EP, Packet Of Three, in 1976. Although the label they were initially signed to went bust soon after, they were picked up by A&M off the back of the EP and began recording their debut album soon after.

In the UK, their singles "Cool for Cats", "Up the Junction", and "Labelled with Love" were top-ten chart hits. Though not as commercially successful in the US, Squeeze had Billboard Top 100 hits with "Tempted", "Black Coffee in Bed", and "Hourglass".

2010 saw Squeeze release a brand new album, Spot The Difference. This was followed by Cradle To The Grave in 2015, which debuted at No.12 in the UK, their highest ever chart position on the album chart. Their 2017 release, The Knowledge, also found favour, peaking at No.25.

Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford now play with five other supporting members, including Stephen Large and Simon Hanson, who joined the reformed band in 2007. Following Covid restrictions, Squeeze resumed touring in 2021, now with over 45 years of material to draw from.

2023’s Forever Young Festival, where the 80s come alive, will take place on July 14-16 at Kildare’s beautiful Palmerstown House Estate and showcases some of the greatest artists of the 1980s.

Each year, attendees bring their camping chairs, reunite their old gangs, and feel forever young over the weekend, watching over 30 iconic original bands from the late ‘70s to the early ‘90s”. This year includes Billy Ocean, ABC, Tony Hadley, Go West, Soul II Soul, and many more. These artists are at their peak, with most celebrating 4 decades or more in the business, and sound better than ever.

“Bananarama put on a brilliant show last year, we wouldn’t normally have an artist from the previous year back this quickly, but it’s a special occasion, a worldwide 40th- anniversary tour!” says Festival Organiser Dr Sharon Alston smiles, speaking from her home in Rathdowney, Co. Laois. "So many people wrote to us after 2022 and said, ‘We’ve got to have Bananarama back!’. With Neville Staple from Fun Boy 3 joining us, it will be extra special."

The Forever Young Festival exploded onto the scene in 2019, winning awards for ‘Best Medium-Sized Festival’ and ‘Best Line-up’ in its first year of operation. Post lockdown, in July 2022, attendees relished the opportunity to finally get out and party in the sun.

Tickets for Forever Young Festival are on sale now.