That first album contained their breakthrough hit, “Teenage Dirtbag”, which charted at No. 2 in the UK, whilst their second single, “A Little Respect”, reached No. 3.

We’re proud to be involved and can’t wait to play at LeeStock 2012″

Brendan B. Brown – Wheatus

The album also saw the release of a double A-side of “Leroy” and “Wannabe Gangstar”, which reached No. 23 in 2002.

Further acclaimed albums have been released at regular intervals throughout the last decade as the band return to England this summer with LeeStock a firm fixture of their 2012 UK tour.

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Speaking about this year’s event , Brendan B. Brown said the band was ‘proud to be involved’ and they ‘can’t wait to play LeeStock!’

We are equally proud to welcome Wheatus to the UK … roll on June 3^rd!

Wheatus Website

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Famed for global hits such as Teenage Dirtbag, which reached number two in the UK charts, the American band has agreed to top the bill at the LeeStock music festival in Sudbury this June.

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American rockers Wheatus, who scored two top five hits with Teenage Dirtbag and A Little Respect a decade ago, and Sheffield indie band Babybird, who shot to fame with 1996 single You’re Gorgeous, will top the bill at LeeStock this summer.

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After the success of my tattoo challenge for LeeStock 2010, I had set the bar quite high, so we really had a lot of thinking to do!  A lot of our friends and family came up with different suggestions, for example a chilli eating competition, body waxing, body piercings to name a few.

The festival was getting nearer, and we were starting to worry, when my girlfriend came up with the wonderful idea of a live bug eating competition, which was to involve myself and her brother Roy battling through mini games, with the loser eating bugs.  This was the one!!  She tried to think of something truly disgusting, difficult to do and entertaining and of course something people would pay to see!!  The plan was made.

With a week to go, our local pet shop Seedee’s kindly picked us the perfect selection of treats, which included waxworms, mealworms, brown crickets, locusts, morioworms and lobworms!!  Everything was set until 3 days before the event when I had a phone call from Roy, he couldn’t make it!

I was alone, there was no hope, I couldn’t persuade anyone to do this with me.  As I called Roy up in a desperate state, he suddenly reminded me of the person who had come up with this tasty idea in the first place!  His sister, my delightful girlfriend Bekka Gifford! It was back on!  What choice did she have?  Later that same day, a call from Matt Keogh pushed this whole thing further forward when he said he would also have a go!  This was a surprise as he was adamant just a few days before there would be no way he could ever even pick up most of these bugs!

Over the LeeStock weekend, the money was coming in fast.  With the help of a couple of band members, we completed all of the challenges and raised a total of around £900!  The challenge itself was pretty scary and not your usual Sunday roast but it was worth it, even if Matt and I were vomiting after each round whilst Bekka soldiered on without throwing up once!!

Hope you enjoy the video and look forward to seeing you all at LeeStock 2012!!

Ash Watts

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Babybird, fronted by Stephen Jones released ‘I Was Born A Man’ in 1995 with 4 further homespun recordings being released in the same year – Bad Shave, Fatherhood, The Happiest Man Alive and Dying Happy. All of which were in the N.M.E. top 10 chart.

Babybird would gain commercial success the following year after signing to Echo Records. The single You’re Gorgeous reached number 3 in the U.K charts with the album, Ugly Beautiful, going gold.

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Stephen Jones has written 3 novels, and is writing a fourth – A Limited Capacity For Wonder. He has also recorded music under his own name and the moniker of ‘Death of the Neighbourhood’.

We are delighted to be playing at LeeStock this year.  The whole event should be great fun and we hope loads of money is raised for the Willow Foundation in Lee’s memory.”

Babybird released their last album, Ex-Maniac in 2009 produced by Bruce Witkin and Ryan Dorn, the album featured Johnny Depp, who also directed the memorable video to the single Unlovable, which included the renowned English actor Stephen Graham. Johnny also plays on Jesus Stag Night Club on the new album ‘The Pleasures of Self Destruction’, released in October 2011.

Babybird myspace page

Babybird website

Getting his hands dirty with his own set of songs has been an inspiring experience for Morriss who started trying them out acoustically at open-mic nights in London way back in 2004: ‘I’d just turn up with my guitar, play five or six songs, along with everyone else. I didn’t want any special favours, and just enjoyed the experience of stripping things right back down.’

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Mark headlined Sunday’s line up at LeeStock 2011 and we’re delighted to welcome him back to the Suffolk live music scene.  An exceptionally popular performer last year, Mark really bought into the reason behind the festival:

I’d just like to say that the atmosphere at last year’s event was so enjoyable that it was a very easy decision to return this year to help raise money and awareness for a great charity that is clearly very close to the heart of many local people.”

Mark Morriss

Mark Morriss myspace page

www.myspace.com/itsallaboutthelemonparty

www.thisboywonders.co.uk

www.myspace.com/thisboywonders

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Organisers of LeeStock – which was previously held at the town’s White Horse pub  – and Live and Kicking will work alongside each other in order to share equipment and costs and tie in with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

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