Following on from last week’s main stage announcement, we’re thrilled to announce details of Split Festival’s Fringe Stage. Curated by Futureheads’ guitarist Ross Millard the Fringe Stage this year sees two days of performances from the best local and national acoustic acts, and on Sunday night it will showcase some fantastic national and local comedians. 

Headline acts this year include Brit Award winner and twice Mercury nominated artist Beth Orton, Michelle Stodart (The Magic Numbers) who are both playing on the Saturday and Jarvis Cocker endorsed act Withered Hand. 

Other notable acts performing on Saturday include:
Paul Mullen (formerly Yourcodenameis:milo, The Automatic & current Young Legionnaire),
The Lake Poets,
Chased by Wolves,
The Union Choir,
This Little Bird,
The Din,
The Cush,
Ajimal

Sunday will play host to:

Kurran And The Wolfnotes,
Nev Clay,
Skylark Song,
Michael Rolfe,
The Railway Club,
Matt Stalker 
The Fables, 
Morris Ford.

Sunday evening is rounded off with comedy presented by North East comedy night Laughing Penguin’s co-founder and resident MC, Tony Jameson. Headlining the comedy tent will be Jason Cook, who has appeared on shows such as ‘Russell Howard's Good News’ and ‘Dave’s One Night Stand’, and was a guest on Chris Ramsey’s ‘In Search of Happiness’ show for BBC Radio 4.

Local acts confirmed to perform include Andy Fury, Nick Cranston, Lee Kyle and Marc Smethurst, along with Laughing Penguin New Act of the Year, Richard Gadd.

Split Festival takes place across September 17th and 18th atAshbrooke Sports Club in Sunderland and will be showcasing some of the UK’s best loved bands including The Charlatans, The Drums, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Mystery Jets, The Rifles,The King Blues and Dinosaur Pile-Up - to name but a few! 

Now in its third year, Split Festival has expanded massively for 2011 with internationally renowned bands headlining the festival and if that’s not enough, thanks to our massive new marquee, which was used at Glastonbury; we can guarantee that whatever the weather everyone at Sunderland’s very own premier music festival will remain dry and happy.