We highlight two Special guests bookending proceedings at One Venue:
Nigel Clark & Liam Fender @ The Kings Head, Sidbury
It’s here – acts from all over the country, giving up their time, descend on Worcester this weekend for the 16th Worcester Music Festival, which raises money for charity and gets bigger every year.
Amongst more than 350 individual performances from artist giving up their time for this years charity – Onside – are two very special guests appearing at The King’s Head in Sidbury.
Nigel Clark, who is no stranger to the Worcester Music Festival, having supported the Festival for more than a decade. Over the years, he has performed several times, run workshops and compered at venues across the Festival.
Former member of Brit-rock legends Dodgy, Nigel is back again, opening the stage on Friday 11th, 6:30pm at The King’s Head in Sidbury. It turns out he was coming along anyway, simply to support WMF, so he didn’t take much persuading to take to the stage again this year.
Hailing from Headless Cross, Worcestershire, and now based in West Wales, Nigel’s career began at the age of 14, working in a record shop. By the mid-80s, he was playing guitar, and in the 90s found chart success with Dodgy, releasing anthems including Staying Out for the Summer and Good Enough. Their albums Homegrown and Free Peace Sweet became UK classics. Nigel’s solo work, including the albums 20th Century Man and Make Believe Love, showcases his versatile blend of indie, folk and rock, combined with his soulful voice and heartfelt songs – a true British music stalwart.
Reunited since 2007, Dodgy have continued to release acclaimed new music, including the albums Stand Upright in a Cool Place and What Are We Fighting. This year sees the release of Hello Beautiful, with the track Summer Forever being featured by Chris Evans as his Record of the Week on Virgin Radio.
Closing the weekend’s proceedings at The King’s Head at 9pm on Sunday 13th is my second special guest. There are artists who inherit a famous surname, and there are artists who earn their own reputation. Liam Fender belongs firmly in the second category.
The North Shields singer-songwriter and musician is nine years older than fellow North East star Sam Fender, but has been making music and gigging for more than two decades. A drummer in his early years, Liam eventually found his own voice as a songwriter, drawing inspiration from Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Richard Hawley and John Martyn.
His music combines rich, atmospheric arrangements with deeply personal storytelling, exploring life, relationships, community and the places that shape us. His debut single, Love Will Conquer, arrived in 2022, followed by the Love Will… EP in 2023 and Man Down in 2024. He has also shared the stage with Sam, including memorable performances at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.
Liam’s connection to his hometown came into sharp focus with 800 Years: Here We Are, a three-year creative project and documentary celebrating North Shields, its people, identity and enduring spirit. The accompanying single, Here We Are, was released in late 2025.
And while he once joked that he and Sam in a band would make the Gallagher brothers look like Jedward, Liam’s music stands proudly on its own merits.