The Uplifters to play Rochdale Feel Good Festival

A polished 7-piece band complete with skanking keyboard, boss horns, and a sweet rhythm section - The Uplifters will play Rochdale Feel Good Festival this summer

Ska music stars The Uplifters have been signed up to play Rochdale Feel Good Festival. The seven piece band from Manchester will perform on the main stage by the Town Hall on Saturday 5 September.

The Uplifters play all waves of ska from Prince Buster and The Skatalites to The Specials and Madness. Mixing Jamaican music from the early 1960s with two-tone rhythms from the late 70s to create a unique sound, the band has supported acts such as Bad Manners, The Beat, and Neville Staple.

They recently recorded a single for the The Specialized Project compilation album – an organisation that raises funds to improve the lives of teens and young adults with cancer.

For their Rochdale debut they are promising a live set of well-known tunes along with some original material from their debut album, ‘Who Turned The Lights Out'.

Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing at Rochdale Borough Council said: “We are excited to have The Uplifters on board. I know The Selecter, The Beat and The Neville Staple Band have gone down well in Rochdale over the years, so The Uplifters will be a great addition.

"This year’s Feel Good Festival is shaping up to be very special. Our focus is always on packing the bill with brilliant music, top chefs and working with sponsors to help us build on the success of previous years. Rochdale Feel Good Festival brings music and food lovers of all ages together in a family friendly atmosphere and it’s a great event for the borough.”

The Uplifters will be joined by previously announced bands The South, Toploader, singer/songwriter Kirsty Almeida plus more still to be confirmed.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September, for another showcase of entertainment, food and culture. There will be live music across indoor venue, the main stage sponsored by The Flying Horse Hotel, and a second outdoor stage. Celebrity chefs including Rachel Khoo, Kevin Woodford and Aazam Ahmad will host live cooking demonstrations throughout the event, which will also include the popular food market.

The summer festival is funded by Rochdale Borough Council together with sponsorship from local businesses.