Festival season is approaching, and one of the largest Manx music gatherings has unveiled this year’s line up.

Nineties Britpop band Dodgy and the legendary UK ska and reggae outfit The Beat will headline this year’s Deep South Festival, which also features a packed line-up of acts, both from the island and the UK.

The festival is now firmly established in its new surroundings at Colby Football Club, and this year’s event promises to build on the huge improvements made last year.

Along with three stages, and its line up of major UK talent, there will be a large artisan food market, a family crafts zone and a kids’ entertainment area, too.

The action will kick off on Friday, June 30, with the gates opening at 6pm ahead of a night of top UK acts.

Friday night will be headlined by Dodgy, who were chart ever-presents during their mid-90s heydey. They scored massive hits with Staying Out For The Summer, Let Me Go Far and Good Enough and their bright guitar pop has seem them lodged firmly in the hearts and consciousness of indie fans everywhere.

Saturday night’s headliners will be legendary reggae ska band The Beat. Now in their fourth decade, having formed in 1978, and fronted by iconic frontman Ranking Roger, they are still going strong and are a regular act during the UK festival season.

Their hits include Mirror In The Bathroom and the skanked-up version of Tears Of A Clown, both released during the early 1980s. They released a new album, Bounce, last year and remain one of the best live acts around.

Also playing on Friday night is Bill Ryder, formerly of 2000s chart band, The Coral, and a young act with an amazing story to tell.

Tom ’Mouse’ Smith is a singer-songwriter who, in a short time, has amassed a considerable online presence, has supported many UK bands, played alongside Billy Bragg and Jamie T and appeared at some of the UK’s most prestigious festivals, including Glastonbury and Kendal Calling.

So far, so impressive. But Tom is only 12 years old, and has achieved all of this despite suffering from HLHS, a rare birth defect that means only one side of his heart works.

Chris Carr, the organiser and driving force behind the Deep South Festival, said they are excited about having Tom on the bill.

’We first became aware of Tom last autumn,’ said Chris. ’And as soon as we read his story we knew we had to bring him across to the Isle of Man and show him off.’

Also playing on the Saturday evening line up will be a relatively new indie band Abel Raise The Cain. Hailing from the northeast of England, the seven-piece band were highlighted by BBC Introducing last year, and are preparing to release their debut album, For Strangers Only, at the end of this month.

’To say we are excited about capturing bands such as these, would be an understatement,’ said Chris. ’But it is a marker of intent from the festival organisers, of where we want to be regarding live music here in the Isle of Man.’

Completing the bill will be a range of Manx bands, including Fletcher Christian Mutiny, The Ballaghs, Psychoholics, Alice Dudley, The Clown Calls For War, Phil Reynolds & the Dearly Departed, Clash Vooar, Ian Thompson band and Matt Kelly.

The will also be a second stage, hosted by Flo’s Coffee Van, featuring many acoustic acts, and headlined by UK band ’The People’s Republic of Mercia’. A third stage will feature poetry, Irish dancing, brass bands and even a ballroom dancing demonstration.

Completing the festival will be a range of activities, including unlimited kids’ games, provided by Switched On and Friends Provident, willow crafting and an animal petting area.

Tickets for the Deep South Festival are priced from £23 a day for an adult ticket to £85 for a family ticket for the weekend, and are available from the Villa Marina box office.

Sponsors include the Isle of Man Steam Packet, Swagelok, Ocean Ford, Cu-Plas and Friends Provident International.