Feeling good again

The Bluetones - Feel Good Festival 2009

The Rochdale Feel Good Festival will return this summer, with organisers promising something bigger and better than ever. The celebration of entertainment, food and culture, now in its third year, will include events in both Middleton and Heywood in early August, prior to the free main attractions in Rochdale town centre on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 August.

A high profile line up of artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

The festival will include live music across a number of indoor venues and a big main stage against the backdrop of Rochdale Town Hall. Celebrity chefs will be hosting live cooking demonstrations throughout the event which will also include a two day quality food market.

Penny Sharp, Head of Regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council said the festival will provide something for everyone: "This year's Feel Good Festival will be bigger and better than ever providing a feast of music, food and entertainment for everyone in the borough to enjoy. I'm sure the festival will provide residents with a whole series of un-missable events and activities in August and help to once again show visitors from other parts of the North West a great time too."

Last year thousands packed Rochdale town centre to see live performances from over 25 bands, vocalists and DJs, including The Bluetones and Wave Machines, whilst celebrity chefs Aldo Zilli and Aazam Ahmad tempted tastebuds.

It marked the start of a very musical second half of 2009, helping to put Rochdale back on the music map. In September two blue plaques marking the boroughs contribution to British music were unveiled and a celebratory concert was headlined by former New Order member Peter Hook. Then in November thousands gathered to watch  Alphabeat and X Factor finalist Jamie Archer make his first live public performance since leaving the popular reality show for the festive lights switch on.

Council Leader Irene Davidson said: "The Feel Good Festival has grown year on year in terms of both scope and popularity. The great news this year is that events will be staged in Middleton and Heywood too, and new areas of artistic entertainment will be explored, building on the wide array of events previously available. It promises to offer more than ever before for everyone."

Debbie O'Brien, Event Manager, added: "Once again Rochdale will be a hive of activity with the very best in live music and great food, plus a few surprises. We're adding in a series of smaller warm up events too so there literally will be something for everyone. There is a great opportunity for local businesses to host their own event as part of the festival too, so I encourage anyone with ideas to come forward as soon as possible. It's also a good sponsorship opportunity for businesses in the region, and we are keen to involve as many as possible to make it another success."

Continuing the musical theme - an exhibition of the borough's contribution to music history, featuring artefacts from Joy Division and the late John Peel, is now on at Heywood Library until the end of April - admission is free.