Feel Good Festival: Main Stage

Photo: Journeaux

Feel Good Festival: Neville Staple

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The main stage of this weekends Feel Good Festival has been filled by a variety of bands and performers and has added to the “best feel good festival” ever.

Organiser Debbie O’Brien said: “This year has definitely been the best. The atmosphere has been brilliant and the feedback has been great.”

Winner of the battle of the bands competition, Red Alert opened the main stage and played to a home town crowd. “I’ve never played a stage like this one so its been really good to be here,” said Red Alert.

Red Alert was the only hip-hop act in the battle of the bands competition and said: “It is nice to be recognised in that kind of competition when you’re the only act of that kind.”

Screaming Maldini took to the stage second and travelled from Sheffield to perform at the festival. Guitarist Nick said: “Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves and it was a really good show.”

Nick added: “We would definitely come back again.”

Next up were The Sundowners, who organisers of the festival had been trying to book for some time. When asked about previous attempts to get them to perform, vocalist Fiona said: “I think it’s all about timing. Glastonbury was our first ever festival so the timing was right this year.

“The show was good, I really enjoyed it.”

Crowds started to gather for The Crookes, who performed songs including Where Did The Love Go and Afterglow. Also from Sheffield and coming to Rochdale for the first time, George, lead singer of the band, said: “These festivals are good because people usually come for one band so its nice to try and convert them to your music.”

Described as a legend by many, Neville Staple got the crowd excited and loud. Neville, who has been performing in the music industry since 1977, appeared at the Feel Good Festival for the first time and said: “I will play at any festival that they will have me at. I love them all.

“Festivals are nice because the kids can come and get involved.”

The Feeling then closed the festival by completing an hour-long set involving some of their hits, new songs and a medley that they previously performed at Buckingham Palace.