WATCHET Festival has been gradually building a name for itself over the last decade, attracting bigger names to the small West Somerset town with each passing year.

However this year the organisers have outdone themselves, bringing in their biggest name yet, one of the stars of the world's biggest girlband in the nineties.

That's right former Spice Girl Mel C, also known as Sporty Spice, has today been announced as the latest top name who will grace Watchet Festival's main stage.

Not only that but the organisers Watchet Live CIC have also announced that Britpop band Cast will be performing, and The Wurzels have been confirmed too.

With more 80 per cent of camping tickets now sold, and all three headliners still to be announced, Watchet Festival is once again shaping up to be sold out well in advance of the August Bank Holiday.

Taking place on Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26 and will also feature Hazel O'Connor, From The Jam, The Dub Pistols and Aswad.

Melanie Jayne Chisholm, aka Melanie C is one of the most successful British recording artists of all time. As a solo artist, Melanie has released? seven solo albums, notching up over 10 million album sales worldwide, alongside two UK Number 1 singles and six top 10‘s. Her debut album Northern Star, released in 1999, sold 4 million copies worldwide and went triple platinum in the UK. 

Taking into account her work with the Spice Girls (who’s first single, "Wannabe" reached number 1 in 37 countries), Melanie C has sold more than 105 million records, co-written 11 UK Number 1s (more than any other female artist in chart history), and remains the only female performer to top the UK charts as a solo artist and as part of a duo, quartet and quintet. 

Cast meanwhile were one of the big-hitting bands of the Britpop scene. Led by former La’s Bassist John Power, guitarist Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson and drummer Keith O’Neill are joined by former La's member Jay Lewis on bass. 
Cast’s debut album All Change is widely regarded as one of the classic Britpop albums. Released in October 1995, the album shot to No 7 in the UK charts, reaching double platinum. It went on to become the fastest selling debut album in the history of Polydor, outselling The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who and The Jam. A further two singles taken from the album; "Sandstorm" and "Walkaway" both went Top 10. Since reforming in 2010, the band have released two studio albums and toured extensively in the UK and overseas.

Also announced is renowned singer-songwriter and actress Hazel O’Connor, who will headline the Udder stage on Saturday. With a career spanning more than 30 years, She became famous in the early 1980s with hit singles "Eighth Day", "D-Days" and "Will You", as well as starring in the film Breaking Glass. Since then she’s gone on to record more than 20 studio albums and appeared regularly on stage and screen.

Watchet LIVE Festival is a not-for-profit family festival with views of the West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages host more than 60 live acts, bringing a wide range of high-calibre musical acts not normally found performing in West Somerset. 

Returning after a fallow year following a completely sold-out-in-advance 10th Anniversary in 2016, Watchet LIVE Festival will once again make financial donations to local charity groups including The Children’s Hospice South West, Elliot’s Touch, and the “Stand Against Speed 4 Bethany”

Watchet Live CIC, the community charity behind Watchet Live Festival, are recipients of the 2017 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service; the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.

Tickets subject to booking fees. Buy online and full T&C’s at www.watchetfestival.co.uk