A GROUP of iconic eighties bands have been announced as headliners for next month's Lechlade Music Festival.

Punk princess Toyah Willcox will headline on the first day of the festival, Friday, May 23 with Dr and the Medics as well as The Blow Monkeys headlining on Sunday, May 25.

"Toyah has had the biggest reaction so far," said festival director Jennie Rainsford. "She's the biggest act we have ever had play at the festival and is proving very popular. All these headliners will be giving the festival evenings a bit of a retro feel."

Punk princess Toyah Willcox has recorded 20 albums across her 30 year career in the music industry. Thirteen of her singles have made it into the Top 40.

Also headlining, The Blow Monkeys have released 12 albums throughout their career while rock band Dr and the Medics are best known for their number one hit Spirit in the Sky.

Jennie went on to say that there would be lots of new and emerging talent playing during the daytime on the weekend while the evening's will be reserved for a feel of the eighties.

The three-day family event takes place at Riverside Country Park in Lechlade over the late May bank holiday weekend.

More than 80 bands will perform on three stages alongside the headliners and a Burlesque Show will take place on Saturday night.

"We received hundreds of applications to play at this year’s festival, from all over the world," said Jennie. "We’ve been able to cherry pick a cracking line-up of top quality live music, promoting new and emerging talent as well as bringing back some festival favourites."

The festival, which now been running for four years, has recently won a clutch of awards for tourism and for working with the community.

Organisers are heading to the House of Lords tomorrow (Wednesday, April 30) to find out if they have secured a national Countryside Alliance Award after making it through to the regional finals last month.

The festival offers free workshops all weekend for children and families and children under 16 can go free.

Visit lechladefestival.co.uk for more information.