SOUTHEND’S alternative-rock band Nothing But Thieves and platinum selling singer-song writer Kate Nash have been announced as two of the headliners to play at this year’s Village Green.

Nothing But Thieves have been riding high following the release of their critically-acclaimed hit self-titled debut album, and supporting the likes of rock giants Muse while Nash is currently on a UK sell-out tour.

Nothing But Thieves keyboardist and guitarist Dominic Craik said: “Southend is our hometown and our watering hole since we were kids. This festival is somewhere we used to come together as teenagers and see new bands from all over Essex. The festival helped us grow as a band so to be able to headline it means a lot to us. There’s nothing like playing in your hometown, so we hope you come join us.”

Further music acts for the Village Green Stage are still to be announced, including local talent to play alongside the national acts on the main stage, with the winner of the music competition Essex Undiscovered, run by the Essex Music Network, being given the opening slot.

Festival director Sean McLoughlin says 80 per cent of the acts who played at Village Green 2016 were from Southend, and this year the same figure is hoped to be reached. Performers can apply via villagegreenfestival.com Mini Green will make a return for 2017 with music, entertainment and all kinds of things to do for tots under the age of six.

In response, to “public feedback”, came the decision to introduce more comedy and food this year,.

A mix of the two will blend in the way of a Culinary Comedy Big Top, which promises to boast a “stellar line-up” with the BBC comedian, broadcaster, journalist, and chef Hardeep Singh bringing his show Chat Masala to the festival, where “the resulting curry is shared with the audience”.

George Egg: Anarchist Cook, is a self-taught cook with an anarchic approach to making meals. He’ll be bringing a surreal and absurd mix of stand-up comedy and innovation, following his 2016 sell-out Edinburgh show. Hilarious Podcaster Global Pillage, led by Australian stand-up and screenwriter Deborah Frances White with guests, will debate and explore the world of food and culture. A headlining comedy act is also to be announced.

The annual festival, hosted by arts organisation Metal, is to take place in Chalkwell Park, Westcliff, on Saturday July 8. As well as the Culinary Comedy Big Top, the festival this year intends to offer a “street food vibe” in the Meadow Field, which the organisers say is in “celebration of the rising food and drink independents in the Southend area”.

They are welcoming local food producers and suppliers to get involved.

“We are going to have demos, recipe shares, foraging tips and tasters, world food and a farmers’ market”, explained Sean.

As in previous years, Visual Art will be taking place across the site, with a concentration of exhibition, market-place and makers around the park’s games courts. An Art Car Boot Rally invites artists and makers to show and/or sell from their own car boots. Railing Against the Machine will be a free-for-all exhibition of work on the railings of the basketball court. The March of the Makers marquee will have demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions of all kinds of contemporary craft from pottery to crochet.

Another addition to the festival will be Sign of the Times - a project based on “positive protest” in which everyone is invited to take part.

Metal explains that commissioned local artists will lead the way in the “creation of a mass installation of signs, placards, slogans and imagery to celebrate the wit, humour and positivity of communities coming together to make change”.

All ages are invited to bring along positive protest imagery. Part of the theme includes a “Love In to Southend”, as the town hits its 125th birthday this year.

In celebration, launching today - Valentine’s Day - Village Green organisers are asking people to create a “Love Letter to My Hometown: Southend” via postcards, being left all over town, inviting people to put down their “best creative message - a drawing, a poem, a letter, just a symbol or anything you like”, post them back to the Metal HQ at Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Westcliff, and they will be part of a huge exhibition at Village Green.

Tickets are now on sale at villagegreenfestival.com Prices are £15 for an adult, £10 for 11-17 year olds, and no charge for ten years and under. On the day adult tickets will be £20 with teen tickets at £15.