Festival’s spreading its wings (From Daily Echo)

Festival’s spreading its wings

2:17pm Friday 9th July 2010 in

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HE’S a Mercury Prize-winning musician. He’s renowned for his live performances, but he shuns the mainstream festival circuit. And Q magazine has listed him in its “50 bands to see before you die”.

Now Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, will bring his distinct sound to Eastleigh Music Festival this weekend.

The acclaimed singer-songwriter is the Saturday night headline act at this year’s festival and joins an eclectic line-up that includes everything from Friday-night headliner folk songstress Cara Dillon to alternative band Field Music and the mesmeric The Baghdaddies.

The weekend continues in style on Sunday with the Eastleigh Mela, which will feature Bollywood and Burlesque dance sensation Emma Reid, pictured, who has been brought in to judge the Bhangra and Bollywood dance contest. Emma is one of the stars of celebrated cabaret icon The Marquis of Gray. In her most famous act Emma enters the stage dressed in a traditional sari, before revealing a sumptuous peacock outfit, complete with a show-stopping beautiful 7ft gossamer tail – created especially for her by Serine of celebrated Serine’s Corsets.

The free all-day celebration of multiculturalism features dance events, workshops, falconry displays, stalls and food from around the globe.

Festival favourites The Baghdaddies will be playing along with Raghu Dixit, Sharma and Friends, Eastleigh Fusion Choir, Southampton Ukulele Orchestra and Crestwood Steel Band.

For details and tickets, visit eastleigh musicfestival.co.uk or call 023 8065 2333.