Bluetones to headline Feel Good Festival

Ready to feel good: Music fans celebrate the launch of the Rochdale Feel Good Festival which hits town on 10 and 11 July.

Indie rock band The Bluetones will headline the Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

The band, who have had three top ten albums and 13 top 40 singles in the UK will be on the main outdoor stage on Saturday 11 July, as part of the free two day celebration of entertainment and culture which kicks off on Friday 10 July.

Their debut album, ‘Expecting to Fly’ broke into the UK charts at Number 1 in 1996 knocking Oasis off the top spot, while lead singer Mark Morris is currently enjoying critical acclaim on his national solo acoustic tour.

Other names already on the line up include ‘Babel’- a folk rock band praised as writers of terrific tunes by Mojo Magazine, triumphant pop music by Clash, The Travelling Band - winners of the Glastonbury New Talent competition 2008, Unabombers - a DJ duo famous for their 10 year’s presenting Electric Chair nights and now the Electric Elephant Festival in Croatia, and The Wave Machines - a disco band who played the BBC Electric Proms in 2008.

Television chefs Aldo Zilli and Aazam Ahmad will be cooking up a treat, hosting live cooking demonstrations throughout the event which will include a two day quality food market.

XFM DJ and keyboardist for the Inspiral Carpets Clint Boon will be compering the main outdoor stage and DJ between acts, adding his own unique enthusiasm to the event.

The eclectic mix of international acts and local bands playing at various venues across the town centre plus a big outdoor stage near the Town Hall promises to be a real treat said Jill Hodkinson, Township Manager from Rochdale Council.

“We’re looking forward to a great summer festival of music and food, providing everyone with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a great free experience here in Rochdale," she said. "It will help to raise the profile of the town, and I’m looking forward to a top class event that will place us firmly on the culture map. The Feel Good Festival will be a chance to see something completely different and I hope it becomes a permanent event that the people of Rochdale can be proud of.”