Legendary Specials front man Terry Hall is back in his home city – and is delighted it is not a Ghost Town.
Hall, who was born and raised in the city, was at the vanguard of the 2-Tone movement which spawned a stream of acts who help create a very distinct sound at the tail end of the 1970s and the early years of the 80s.
Now, he is curating a major four-day festival of live music, DJ sets, film and spoken word – Home Sessions – staged in iconic city centre locations, running from Thursday 29 July to Sunday 1 August 2021.
The event has been 18 months in the making, and is one of the highlights of Coventry’s year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture.
“Historically when I do something there has to be a good reason apart from, I can do it, because anybody can do it.
“When Coventry was announced as UK City of Culture, I was really curious to see what was going to happen and then, by chance, I met Suzanne, who is producing this with me, at Glastonbury where she was working. She said she had been approached to do something and she put two and two together – Coventry and me – and we took it from there. That was about 18 months ago.”
Like everything, Hall’s plans were hit by Covid, making the already complex event even harder to bring together.
“It was a long list when we first started planning it, which was last year but then in March 2020 everything got turned upside down.
“That meant the list had to be cut down as, for example, there are a lot of American artists that I really like, but they can’t come, because the idea of coming over and having to quarantine for ten days is impossible.
“So, the list then was being guided by Covid and its restrictions, the choice of venues, the capacity. Until we got to the state now where we think the artists that we’ve got are really good and we’re really happy with that.
“A few people we knew would do favours for each other no matter what happened – people such as The Lightening Seeds and The Libertines. Garry Powell from the Libertines played with our band and I have known Peter Doherty for a long time. He also grew up in in Bedworth which is his connection.
“People were really responsive and keen. But the only question that there has ever been is, can we do it? Will it go through? It has got closer and closer and we are now at a stage where we feel confident. “
Acts include DJ and record producer Roni Size; rock band The Libertines and frontman Peter Doherty; country and electronic rock band Alabama 3; pop rock group The Lightning Seeds, and vintage synth enthusiasts Eccentronic Research Council featuring Maxine Peake performing 1612 Underture – a 12-chapter sound poem based of the mistreatment and memory of the Pendle Witches.
HOME SESSIONS full line-up:
THURSDAY 29 JULY
Roni Size & Dread MC+ Felix Hall and Special Guest Jossy Mitsu.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 6.30pm, tickets from £32.
LAU.RA & Guests Nova, Eliza Legzdina And Secaina + Whitey Dj Set.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 7pm, tickets from £23.
FRIDAY 30 JULY
Lightning Seeds + Eccentronic Research Council ft. Maxine Peake.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 6.00pm, tickets from £42
Murray Lachlan Young Presents The Edge Of Reason + Sangita Lakhanpal + Blabbermouth Featuring Lu Edmonds (Pil) + Mark Roberts.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 7pm, tickets from £23.
Midnight in the ruins: UNKLE presents Ronin.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 11.30pm, tickets from £32.
SATURDAY 31 JULY
Peter Doherty.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 11.30am, tickets from £25
Morning Gloryville Family Rave Work Out + Curious Club.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 11.30am. Tickets from £27
Alabama 3 acoustic.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 2.30pm, tickets from £25
Jane Weaver + Riding The Low.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 2.30pm, tickets from £17.
John Grant.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 4.30pm, tickets from £25.
An Evening with Terry Hall.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 7.30pm, tickets from £52.
The Pop Group vs Dennis Bovell: World Premiere of ‘Y in Dub’.
HMV Empire Coventry. Doors open 9.30pm, tickets from 27.
Midnight in the ruins: Daddy G (Massive Attack) + Queen Bee DJ set.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 11.30pm, tickets from £32
SUNDAY 1 AUGUST
Bill Drummond Presents A Screening Of ‘best Before Death’ And Performs His New Play ‘white Saviour Complex’.
Coventry Cathedral. Film starts 11.30am, tickets from £15.
Blues 2 Go Featuring Horace Panter + Nadia Javed (The Tuts).
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 1.30pm, tickets from £22.
Tim Burgess Listening Party With Terry Hall.
HMV Empire. Doors open 1.30pm, tickets from £12.
Fat White Family + Tim Burgess.
Cathedral Ruins. Doors open 5.30pm, tickets from £25.
Death Disco hosted by Alan McGee + special guests.
Coventry Cathedral. Doors open 7.00pm, tickets from £25
Don Letts & Rhoda Dakar + Jazzie B.
HMV Empire. Doors open 7.30pm, tickets from £22.
The Libertines
Catherdral Ruins. Doors open 9.00pm, tickets from £32.
For more information about events taking place as part of the City of Culture take a look at: coventry2021.co.uk
Looking to make a weekend of your visit? Let us recommend a stay at the beautiful Telegraph Hotel in the city centre – an iconic building with lots of great mid-century touches. Find out more here.
