Red Rooster Festival in Euston Hall, Suffolk has announced its second wave of acts, including a UK festival exclusive from Asleep At The Wheel who celebrate their 50th Anniversary. The festival is also set to include special performances by Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Jim Lauderdale – who is a 2-time Grammy winning Americana icon – Reverend John Wilkins, CC Adcock & The Lafayette Marquis, Tommy McLain, Jontavious Willis, Izo Fitzroy w/ Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, and The Vagaband Youth Orchestra.
Band leader of Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Benson, recently starred in the BBC4 Ken Burns Country Music show, appearing in nearly every episode of the acclaimed documentary series.
Ray Benson has been the one constant in Asleep At The Wheel since the band’s inception in 1970 in Paw Paw, West Virginia. Since that time, more than 100 musicians have passed through the band, but Benson remains its front man and guiding light. In the process, the band has released more than 25 albums, earned 10 Grammy awards, an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award, Academy of Country Music Award, Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, and racked up millions of miles on the road.
Joining Asleep At The Wheel and the previously announced Richard Hawley, North Mississippi Allstars and The Sheepdogs, will be seven other acts, including Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express. Chuck Prophet started his wild ride as a kid back in 1984 when Green on Red plucked him out of Berkeley, California, and threw him in the van for an eight-year ride and the recording of as many albums.
Red Rooster is also set to host the first ever UK festival performance by Reverend John Wilkins and his 8-piece gospel blues band from Mississippi. Reverend Wilkins follows in the footsteps of his father Robert Wilkins who first recorded ‘Prodigal Son’, famously covered by The Rolling Stones on Beggars Banquet. Representing Louisiana will be Swamp Rock Kings, CC Adcock & The Lafayette Marquis, and the legendary Tommy McLain. Jontavious Willis, protégé of Taj Mahal and Keb Mo makes his UK festival debut.
Opening the Main Stage on Saturday night will be another Rooster exclusive – The Vagaband Youth Orchestra! Local heroes, The Vagaband, collaborating with the Sistema in Norwich Youth Orchestra.
