Signals, Is Bliss, Shoot The Duke and more to headline next year's Icebreaker Festival

Fresh from playing at the Isle of Wight Festival and Common People in Southampton, Signals will be headlining The Wedgewood Rooms – one of 12 venues putting on bands during the day-long event next January.

Highly rated by BBC Introducing, the female-fronted math-pop act are expected to provide an exciting finale to Icebreaker 2017.

And last week’s winners of 2016’s All About the Song contest Shoot the Duke will close The Royal Albert. Bimbo will create an intimate but electric vibe at Al’Burrito, singer-songwriter Just Millie will see out The Wine Vaults, The Silhouettes will provide a vibrant headline set at The Loft, while Little Johnny Russell’s hosts the fast-growing Four Folds Law.

Is Bliss returned to the scene in 2016 and will close out The Fat Fox, The Folsom will deliver an epic set at The Atrium, and heavy rockers Housefires and Sigma Falls will bring the noise at The Deco and The Honest Politician respectively.

Co-organiser Mike Hartley says: ‘Signals haven’t played Icebreaker before. We had them in mind for last year, but we couldn’t fit them in anywhere suitable.

‘There’s a good buzz about them and they fit in perfectly with what we want to do with Icebreaker.

‘We’re really chuffed with this line-up so far – it’s going to be our strongest year yet.’

They’re also delighted to get scene veterans Is Bliss on the bill. They returned to live action this year after a break.

‘As soon as I saw they were coming back I wanted them for Icebreaker,’ adds Mike, ‘fortunately enough they can play for us.’

There are still two more headliners to come and the organisers are accepting applications for the rest of the 100-plus slots.

‘We’ve been taking entries since February, and we’ve already had nearly 600. We will listen to every single one – that was one of my highlights of last year.

‘We know a lot of bands collectively, but there’s no point in going just with what you know. You have to give everyone a fair chance, there’s no playing favourites.’

Advanced tickets cost £12. Applications are open for acts until the end of July. Apply through the event’s website or their Facebook page.

Various venues, Southsea

Saturday, January 28

icebreakerfestival.com