Littleborough band win slot on Feel Good Festival stage

Atlas on stage at Rochdale Empire for the Feel Good – Battle of the Bands’ competition

New local rock band Atlas, who formed last year while at secondary school have been awarded a slot on the main stage at this summer’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

The band won first prize in the ‘Feel Good – Battle of the Bands’ competition and will open the main stage on Saturday 10 August supporting acts including Ocean Colour Scene.

The five-piece, all former pupils of Wardle Academy only formed in 2023 and played their first proper gig at their secondary school leaver’s assembly last year.

They were the judge’s favourites after the finalists performed at Rochdale Empire in front of a packed live audience, impressing with their musical proficiency, stage presence, originality and the response they got from the crowd.

Ben Boothman from main stage sponsor The Flying Horse Hotel said: “All the finalists put on a great show, it was very close and a difficult decision to pick a winner, but as well as getting the most public votes we thought they would go down very well on the main stage this August.”

The band comprising Adam Statham, Oscar Hill, Joe Bradwell, Dylan Burgess and Ben Braddock are all from Littleborough.

Lead singer Adam said they were thrilled to win: “We’re always looking out for opportunities to play and I’ve been coming to Rochdale Feel Good Festival since I was a kid, so we jumped at the chance and we are so pleased. It feels like our hard work has paid off, we’re so excited. This is a tough competition to win but it was one of our goals and it feels amazing to have actually done it.”

The band won the public vote before they and five other finalists were invited to perform in front of the judges – Laura Howkins, manager of Voltalab Sound Studios, BBC Introducing artist Micah Stalgic, Ben Boothman, co-owner of main stage sponsor the The Flying Horse Hotel and Pete Courtie, head of culture and placemaking at Rochdale Development Agency.

As well as Ocean Colour Scene, Atlas will be joined by Lottery Winners, Heather Small - the voice of M People, Toucan, Madame Claude, DJ Dave Sweetmore and more to be revealed.

Alternative rock trio Triiip were named as runners up and will also be on the festival line-up, performing at The Flying Horse Hotel.