Indie icons Ned’s Atomic Dustbin will headline a new event celebrating the musical heritage of Stourbridge, it was revealed today.

The popular 90s band will perform at Stourbridge Town Hall on Saturday 25 May as part of One Heart One Way.

The all-day event will also feature performances from up and coming local bands, and aims to inspire a new generation of stars from the town.

Kelly Martin, venue manager for Stourbridge Town Hall, said:

“One Heart One Way has been the motto emblazoned on Stourbridge’s civic heraldry since 1917. It speaks of a single-minded purpose that has characterised so many aspects of the town’s history ever since, not least it’s musical heritage.

For decades the town’s musical output has punched way above its weight to reach all corners of the globe, leaving a legacy that will live on for generations.

Robert Plant, Pop Will Eat Itself, The Wonder Stuff and of course Ned’s Atomic Dustbin all enjoyed huge success after starting out on the scene in Stourbridge.

One Heart One Way will be a collaboration with neighbouring venues and businesses in the town to celebrate the immense influence of music in the town, past and present. We hope it will inspire a fresh wave of engagement in music lovers and players.”

Jonn Penney, lead singer of Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, said:

“In terms of musical output and impact, Stourbridge is the mouse that roared!

In the 90s, when our band broke through on the tails of Pop Will Eat Itself and The Wonder Stuff, the town was a crucible of creativity. I’d like to think that it still can be, if people feel engaged in a creative community.

I wanted to get the ball rolling. I decided that sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is, so here we are coming back to Stourbridge, where it all started, to shake things up again!

I’d love to see the bars, the clubs, the hotels, the restaurants and cafes fit to burst again, like they were when we last played in 2021.”

Support acts for the Ned’s show, as well as a host of other events in the town, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Also as part of the event Claptrap, an independent music venue in the town, will be taking over the Wollaston Studio at the town hall from 5pm to 9pm on Saturday 25 May. The event, named Claptrap on Tour, will showcase some of the local musical talent to have performed at their venue on Stourbridge High Street.

Sean Lloyd, co-owner of Claptrap, said:

"The One Heart One Way motto signifies working together towards a shared goal. What better way for Claptrap The Venue to work together with Town Hall than to set-up shop within its walls, and to have even more bands playing, on the same day, under the same roof!”

Tickets for Ned’s Atomic Dustbin are now on sale, to book visit boroughhalls.co.uk or call the box office on 01384 812812.