With more than 50 acts over four stages, Poole and Bournemouth's biggest and best family live music weekend is back with a bang this summer, boasting the starriest line up in its seven-year history with the late addition of indie favourites The Lottery Winners whose latest album Anxiety Replacement Therapy went straight to number one within days of its release last month.
"This is the party Poole has been crying out for this year," says festival organiser Ben Dyas.
"We've all been feeling the pinch so we've done our best to keep prices sensible but still fill the bill with household names, great entertainers, the best tributes and local acts as well as great food and drink and loads of fun stuff for the kids."
A number of special ticket deals are still available including weekend family tickets for just £55 and three-day adult tickets from just £30.
Best known for mid-00s hits like 'Worried About Ray' and 'Choice', The Hoosiers scored a number one in 2021 with the football charity single 'Route 66'; while fellow headliners The Lightning Seeds, who have already played Liverpool's Eurovision party as well as Glastonbury this year, will feature indie classics 'Pure', 'The Life of Riley' and 'Lucky You' alongside their classic football anthem 'Three Lions'. The band's latest album, See You in the Stars, was released last year to widespread acclaim.
Transylvanian twins The Cheeky Girls need no introduction to pop fans having caused a sensation with their number two debut single 'Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)' in 2002 and its top three follow ups 'Take Your Shoes Off' and 'It's A Cheeky Holiday' securing their current status as TikTok comeback queens.
Also billed are 1990s hitmakers Space revisiting their best-known hits ‘Neighbourhood’, ‘Female of the Species’ and ‘Begin Again’; and back by popular demand come Bristolian dance fusionists Dr Meaker who were blown away by their reception at last year's Poole Harbour Festival.
As ever, there's a strong line up of crowd-pleasing tributes to the likes of Queen, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Prodigy, Guns N' Roses, REM and Coldplay, as well as a DJ bill topped by cut-n-paste king Jaguar Skills, remixer extraordinaire Tall Paul, original Junglist Nicky Blackmarket and the one and only Brandon Block, with Bournemouth's own Freeze joining dance scene movers and shakers including The Manor Reunion with Jon Langford and Paul Moss.
Leading local live music merchants including the ferocious Millie Manders and the Shut Up, Filta, Saints of Sin and everyone's favourite four string slingers Mother Ukers ensure there's no let up in quality from beginning to end.
Away from the music, there's free children's entertainment all weekend with the return of the amazing dinosaur shows, alongside Mad 4 Animals, Mr Merlin, Krazy Kev and Jules the Entertainer as well as street performers and the popular circus skills workshops.
Over the years, Poole Harbour Festival has earned a deserved reputation for its quality food and drink offer and revellers can be sure of a great selection of delicious street food and a wide choice of local ales and ciders at the bars.
Poole Harbour Festival opens at 5pm on Friday, noon on Saturday and 11am on Sunday, closing at 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 7pm on Sunday.
Tickets available now at www.pooleharbourfestival.com
