First bands announced to play at Convoy in the Park

Bands playing music from punkabilly to alt-country are among the first to be confirmed on the bill for Convoy in the Park at Donington Park.

The inaugural Convoy in the Park festival, billed as the ultimate celebration of the truck and driver, will take place on the weekend on 22 and 23 July. It is expected that tens of thousands of truck drivers, enthusiasts and race fans will attend the event.

Among the bands playing on the main stage on Saturday 22 July are Eastbourne-based trio Knocksville. Describing themselves as a “blues infused dirty rock n roll band”, Knocksville have played across the UK and Europe since forming in 2009. The band’s second album, Volume II, was released in September 2016.

Also appearing on the main stage is genre-blending punk Millie Manders. Along with her band, The Shutup, Millie’s playful yet thought-provoking lyrics, fused to grinding guitars and a pumping rhythm section, have gained critical acclaim in the past couple of years among the rock press.

John Lewis & his Rock N Roll Trio’s blend of classic rockabilly with a modern attitude has won him a legion of fans in recent years. Lewis has had airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music, among other stations, and his solo acoustic album, His Other Side, was released in February.

Closing the main stage on Saturday is tribute act Guns or Roses, who will play a range of the iconic Los Angeles-based band’s classic tracks.

First up on stage on Sunday will be Mashville, an alt-country/Americana band with a range of influences including Johnny Cash, Wilco and The Jayhawks. The 5-piece band, who hail from Kent, play a mix of covers and original material.

Following Mashville will be the Johnny Cash Tribute. Kevin takes on the role of the Man in Black, ably assisted by the JCT Band, and has been described as having a voice that sounds “more like Johnny Cash than Johnny Cash.” Kevin covers the span of Cash’s career, from his early records right through to the American Recordings series of the 1990s and 2000s.

Also appearing will be The Black Feathers – aka duo Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler – whose mix of Americana, folk and acoustic indie rock has garnered critical acclaim. Their debut album, released in 2016, made the Top 10 in the iTunes Country chart and the Official UK Americana Chart. They have also toured the UK and the USA, as well as supporting Eddi Reader on her tour of Ireland.

The bands are just part of what’s on over the weekend at Convoy in the Park. On track, there will be wheel-to-wheel action in the latest rounds of the British Truck Racing Championship, plus a full programme of support races.

Off track, there will be just as much entertainment for all the family. Among the attractions will be show truck processions, eating competitions, a charity caravan smash, outdoor cinema, kid’s zone and much more.

Tickets are on sale now. To buy, and for more information, go to www.convoyinthepark.co.uk.

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