With its reputation as a riotous first fixture in the festival calendar and an un-missable event for the connoisseur of indie, the annual music marathon proudly returns to kick-start the season once again with an almighty bang.
The headliners for the 2016 Gigantic Indie All-Dayer 3 at Manchester Academy are The Wonder Stuff. As the festival celebrates its third anniversary, The Wonder Stuff notch up their 30th. Speaking about the headline slot, the band’s exuberant frontman Miles Hunt said, “We are all so very much looking forward to sharing the bill with such an amazing cast of bands. Speaking entirely for myself, I’d pay top dollar to see any one of the bands on this bill. Bring it on, it’s gonna be a killer event!”
Since self-financing their debut EP in 1986, the joyous sounds of A Wonderful Day ensured that an irresistible contract with a major label lay just around the corner for the Midlands bunch. A string of irresistible singles paved the way for their classic debut album The Eight Legged Groove Machine, a record that would take indie kid collections by storm. The fan’s love affair with the band wouldn’t stop there however, as they continued to besiege the charts with three further top 5 albums and thirteen Top 40 smashes. Coupling these formidable feats with gargantuan anthems such as “The Size of A Cow”, “Unbearable”, “Don’t Let Me Don’t Gently”, “Dizzy” and more – The Wonder Stuff have all the hallmarks of a truly Gigantic headliner.
Also on the bill are The House Of Love. Formed in London in 1986 around the integral song-writing core of singer Guy Chadwick and Terry Bickers, The House of Love’s career and the pair’s relationship burned with a fuse like tenacity, bright and quick. Sparking off each other’s talents, the pair’s tangible and passionate chemistry set them from the pack and debut single ‘Shine On’ immediately left listeners like rabbits in the headlights, a landmark debut and a wealth of unforgettable classic singles followed with “Christine”, “Never”, “Beatles & The Stones” and the stunning “Destroy The Heart”.
Taking place across Manchester Academy, Manchester Academy 2 and Manchester Club Academy, the Gigantic Indie All Dayer Volume 3 certainly has room for plenty of bands and also sees performances from the likes of Jesus Jones, Bentley Rhythm Ace, BMX Bandits, The Telescopes and many more.
But it’s not just about the the live indie music. As in previous years, from stage to stage, set to set there will be DJs throughout the day to ensure you’re whisked through 10 hours of uninterrupted classic indie bliss set across 3 stages.
This year will also see for the first time the addition of seminal titles of the silver screen at the festival as it launches Indie Cinema.
And trusting that Indie fans have a taste in beverages as immaculate as their taste in music, no Gigantic Indie All Dayer could ever be complete without the Real Ale and Cider Tent has made such a splash in former years. Corroborating once again with Robinsons – a brewer and purveyor of some of the finest liquids in the Northwest – the festival organisers have confirmed the return of the All Day Real Ale & Cider Festival. Street food stands will also be dotted around the site and selling a wide variety of snacks and meals.
Gigantic Indie All-Dayer Volume 3 – Saturday 28 May 2016, 1.30pm – 11.30pm.
