By Rachael Grealish

British pop sensations Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Tinie Tempah will be bringing their talents to Cumbria to kick off the Whitehaven Alive festival 2023.

It was confirmed today, Tuesday, April 4, the stars will be headlining the Mitie main stage on Friday, September 8 as the West Cumbrian festival returns for its second year.

London-born rapper and songwriter, Tinie Tempah, is best known for hits such as Pass Out and Written In The Stars. With multiple platinum-selling albums and numerous awards including three MOBO Awards, two BRIT Awards, and an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, he has become a household name in the UK hip-hop scene.

It would be hard to think of Sophie Ellis-Bextor and not think of the addictive pop hit Murder On The Dancefloor, but the British star also has six studio albums, numerous top-ten singles and great success in the music industry.

Supporting acts for the Friday evening concerts will be Kendal’s LOWES and Springfield, the local Whitehaven five-piece.

Whitehaven Alive is set to be a huge event for the town with an event village featuring 70 stalls, offering everything from food to artisan candles and cheeses and global brands such as Porsche. The festival will celebrate music, lifestyle, and creativity, and takes place between September 8 and 10.

Oliver Hodgson founder and executive director of Platinum Live and The Alive Entertainment Group said ‘both artists bring a unique energy and talent’ that ‘perfectly embodies the spirit of the festival’ as his reason behind picking the British icons.

He said: “Whitehaven Alive is proud to welcome Tinie and Sophie Ellis Bextor as our headliners for the Friday night harbourside show. Both artists bring a unique energy and talent that perfectly embodies the spirit of our festival. We can’t wait to see the crowd come alive as they take to the Mitie Main Stage.

“It’s not only a huge win for the festival having two huge names to kick off the festival weekend but it’s also a fantastic opportunity for the local economy. We’re expecting tens of thousands of visitors from outside the area across the weekend who will be staying in hotels and eating out in local restaurants.”

At the beginning of this year, Oliver went into partnership with the seasoned festival organisers Liz Cannon and Danny Maudling – who for over a decade were part of the organisation behind the Boof Festivals and have now joined the team as executive directors of the Alive Entertainment Group.

Liz said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce such an incredible line-up for Friday night at Whitehaven Alive. Tinie and Sophie Ellis Bextor are true icons of the music industry and are sure to deliver a truly unforgettable experience for festival fans. We’re also excited to welcome Lowes, a fantastic band from Kendal to the stage. Whitehaven Alive is going to be a weekend to remember.”

Danny added: “Whitehaven Alive will provide a great platform for local artists to showcase their talent alongside such esteemed artists, such as Tinie and Sophie Ellis Bextor.

“We’re committed to supporting emerging artists and we’ll have a second stage within the event village dedicated to showcasing the best local talent from Cumbria and the surrounding areas. Whitehaven Alive is a celebration of music, culture, and lifestyle and we’re excited to bring people together for an unforgettable weekend.”

Tickets for the Friday night harbourside show are available at www.whitehavenalive.com