Strictly star and Spandau Ballet frontman among headliners at Lichfield Festival

A new dance show has been created exclusively for this year’s Lichfield Festival by Strictly Come Dancing star Neil Jones (pictured) and headline acts will include The Unthanks and former Spandau Ballet frontman and celebrated solo artist Tony Hadley.

Running from 8 to 20 July, Lichfield is feted as one of the country’s most eclectic multi-arts festivals with world-class artists, new talent, and local voices from music, theatre and dance to comedy and literature, converging on the city. 

Folk superstars The Unthanks, pop legend and festival patron Tony Hadley, the world-famous Black Dyke Band, the Sam Every (Little) Big Band, and jazz royalty Jacqui Dankworth with the Carducci Quartet, all grace Lichfield Cathedral, showcasing new albums, celebrating pop, brass band and TV theme classics, and reimagining jazz and music theatre standards.

The choral group Tenebrae make imaginative use of the Cathedral for Joby Talbot’s modern masterpiece Path of Miracles, inspired by the Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage route. 

Also in the Cathedral, renowned bass-baritone Sir Willard White and Brodsky Quartet join forces for an  evening of classics from the Great American Songbook to the magic of Sinatra; and the ever-popular BBC National Orchestra of Wales return to play Beethoven and Bruch, with exciting young violinist Hana Chang.   

Neil Jones will be presenting his latest show Gingerland, created especially for Lichfield Cathedral. 

It’s his second exclusive show for Lichfield Festival following the success of Somnium: A Dancer’s Dream in 2018. 

Playing for two nights, the family-friendly comedy tale features Neil alongside a dazzling cast of top professional dancers, with glamorous costumes and original music. 

Elsewhere across the venues, pianist, singer and raconteur Joe Stilgoe returns after last year’s festival triumph while folk legend and former Show of Hands front-man Steve Knightley appears as part of a much-anticipated solo tour. 

Other attractions include historian and festival patron Tracy Borman taking an in-depth look at the Tudor artist Holbein, the lives of intriguing historical figures explored through musical, theatrical and literary events: actor Tama Matheson presenting Lord Byron’s scandalous life in a concert-play with pianist Clare Hammond.

Captivating young pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason closes this year’s festival with an atmospheric candlelit concert in Lichfield Cathedral.  

A new discounted ticket initiative is launched this year, offering 30 per cent off for under 30s and £5 tickets for carers, unwaged, children and eligible community groups, thanks to audience development partner, Executive Carers. 

The festival runs from 8-20 July. Full details and tickets are available online at or the box office on 01543 306271 (call-back service).