Manchester rockers James to headline Laois' Forest Fest

UK rock band James have announced a headline slot at Emo's Forest Fest in Co. Laois, scheduled for July 21-23. The Manchester crew will perform on the Friday night.

The band is currently composed of Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Saul Davies, Adrian Oxaal, David Baynton-Power, Mark Hunter, Andy Diagram, Chloe Alper and Deborah Knox-Hewson.

Across the three days one can also expect to see the likes of:

Paul Brady, Suede, Bell X1, Sharon Shannon, Daoirí Farrell Trio, the olllam, Stockton’s Wing, Kíla & Brass, Greenshine, Goitse, Emer Dunne, Eric De Buitléir, Two Time Polka, Blackie O’Conneil and Cyril O’Donoghue, Carlos Sweeney McCartin, Buíoch, Trad Hits, Bog Bodies, Caoivín, Eva Coyle Band, The Grange Ceilí Band and set dancing with Maureen Culleton.

Also on the bill are Darren Roche and Cillian Doheny, Splendid Isolation, Roo Elizabeth and Band, Tommy Fitzharris, Siobhán Buckley and Aoife Buckley, Alfi, The Cardinal Sins, Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra, The Offbeats Bodhrán Club, Miadhachughain O’Donnell and Joe Campbell McArdle.

Flexible day tickets for Forest Fest are €85; children 12 and under attend free of charge.

James have also announced details of a new album in celebration of their 40th Anniversary. Be Opened By The Wonderful is a 20 track (19 Vinyl) of some of their most loved and rare tracks, re-imagined with a 22 piece orchestra and 8 piece choir.

Released on 9th June via Virgin Music and available on DSPs, CD and Vinyl the double-album also includes one brand new track, 'Love Make A Fool', to be released in April.

Be Opened By The Wonderful was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddell with the ORCA22 Orchestra lead by Andra Vornicu featuring the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir, directed by Wayne Ellington.

“Life begins at 40. For our midlife euphoria we recorded a double orchestral album of some of our deepest cuts. If you already have a golden ticket, you’ll be catching this on tour and at Latitude festival. Bring your wings and come ready to fly," Tim Booth says of the news.

The band will be headlining venues across the UK, April through to May on their ‘James Lasted’ tour, calling at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall, concluding at The Royal Albert Hall, London on 17th May.

One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, James have released 16 studio albums, selling over 25 million copies with their recent run of Top 5 albums proving to be a golden era for the band.

2021's All The Colours Of You was their most critically acclaimed in years, preceded by Living in Extraordinary Times and Girl at the End of the World - which narrowly missed out on the top spot in 2016 to Adele.

Listen to 'She's A Star - Orchestral Version' below.