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Sunday 10th May, 2026

Fling Festival Headline Acts Announced

04/04/2018 About 1 minute Share article:
The Fling Festival has announced its headline acts. The mighty punk legends Buzzcocks will be taking to the main stage and superstar DJ, Norman Jay MBE, will be topping the bill in the dance tent. The Fling Festival is created purely for adults and is like no other with festival goer's curiosity encouraged and diversity in entertainment celebrated. This year The Fling Festival will return to Hylands Park, Chelmsford, on Saturday 30 June.

Buzzcocks are one of the most legendary groups from the punk era. Their achievements are staggering: one of the original holy trinity of British punk (with the Sex Pistols and the Clash), innovators of the independent record scene and genuine punk rock superstars who have been cited as inspirational by bands as diverse as Arcade Fire, U2 and Nirvana. Eight studio albums, over twenty singles including the classic 'Ever Fallen in Love' and 'What Do I Get?', a constellation of compilations, covers by other bands and songs on film soundtracks have put Buzzcocks on the upper echelons of British recording artists. The group still contains the core partnership of Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle, and they continue to tour the world and release new material.

The Fling Dance Tent will this year feature a headline set from one of the finest and most respected DJs today, Norman Jay. Having built a reputation as one of the world's best DJs, packing clubs to the rafters wherever he played, he was responsible for taking the underground sounds of rare groove and house firmly into the mainstream. The turn of the century saw Norman Jay assume the role of elder statesman, receiving an MBE from the Queen for services to deejaying and music. Continuing his burgeoning work as a broadcaster, and to play an eclectic mix of black and dance music across the globe as the deejay's DJ, Norman Jay remains at the forefront of club culture, converting each new generation to the cause, championing new sounds, and guaranteeing nothing but the good times.

2018 also sees the introduction of two new music stages to Fling; Bays Days and Shakey's Sessions Unplugged. The Bays Days stage will showcase the best under the radar groups, including the Ska and reggae influenced New Town Kings, who will be on razor sharp form after completing a UK tour, electronic popsters F.O.X, who have been the special guests of Depeche Mode on European tours and the math rock post-hardcore Rad Pitt. Shakey's Sessions Unplugged stage focuses on leading acoustic acts from Chelmsford and local area, featuring the likes of Leanne Louise, Louise Parker, Helen Connelly, Carousel, Hannah Paris, Magic Seas, Spencer M Taylor, Barton Young and HARRY.

On top of this we're delighted to announce live music from some of Chelmsford's most popular and entertaining acts, including live funk and soul from Junior Jump and the Bottom Line, classic Hip Hop rock covers from everyone's favourite Grizzly Bearz, and 90s dance anthems from local hero's Sunscreem who had a massive hit in the early 90s with 'Love U More' and was one of the first techno songs in the US Billboard chart. The Fling will also be welcoming the return of its fabulous Silent Disco with a wealth of DJs battling it out for your listening pleasure.

More acts across the whole of the festival will be announced soon.

Early Bird and VIP tickets have sold out. Tier 3 tickets are now on sale from £26.00, available online via http://www.flingfestival.com, over the phone 01245 606830, or in person from the Box Office: Chelmsford City Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JG

For up-to-date festival information, including exciting announcements coming up over the next few weeks please visit the official website, http://www.FlingFestival.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @flingfestival

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