Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2016

MUSIC AND FOOD GIVEN CENTRE STAGE AT ROCHDALE’S FEEL GOOD FESTIVAL

 Rochdale is offering two whole days packed with fabulous free entertainment in their town centre. Live music from established names, rising stars and first class cooking from world renowned chefs. Music and food at its best!
Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August, for another showcase of entertainment, food and culture.

 -MAIN STAGE HEADLINERS-

Indie rock trio THE FRATELLIS will headline Rochdale Feel Good Festival this summer. The band, famous for their turbo charged indie guitar tunes will take to the main stage for a free show by Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 20 August.

Since winning the Best British Breakthrough gong at the BRIT Awards, the Glaswegian three-piece have enjoyed huge success, with 3 top 20 albums and 5 top 40 singles over the past decade. Their first album – ‘Costello Music’ reached Number 2, selling more than one million copies in the UK alone.  While the lads have enjoyed a string of hits, including ‘Whistle for the Choir’, ‘Henrietta’, ‘Mistress Mable,’ and ‘Baby Fratelli’ they are best known for the anthemic ‘Chelsea Dagger’, which remains a playlist staple at sports stadia around the world.

It’ll be a Rochdale debut for The Fratellis who have performed at major festivals across Europe including Glastonbury and T in the Park as well as completing sell-out tours in the UK, America and Australia.

Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing at Rochdale Borough Council said:
“We are excited to have secured The Fratellis for the festival. This event goes from strength to strength and brings visitors into the borough from across the region. We hope thousands will join us once again to make this another year to remember and with our river re-opening work complete, the festival site in the town centre will look fantastic.”

PLUS: VERY SPECIAL GUESTS…

-ALEX CORNISH-

ALEX CORNISH’S varied musical styles include contemporary rock, folk, orchestral and ambient and he’s been compared to Coldplay and Ryan Adams. On tour, Alex has supported artists including Alison Moyet at the Royal Albert Hall, Amy Macdonald, Kathryn Williams and Starsailor. He’s performed alongside Ellie Goulding and his cover version of ‘Brothers in Arms’ was included on the Radio 2 Saturday Sessions CD. Last year he played another live in session with Dermot O’Leary who describes Alex as ‘a genius.’

-BOOMIN’-

BOOMIN’, famed for their extravagant live shows, take well known hits and play them with their own inimitable style, blending classic rock with modern chart music plus a stack of their own original material and a touch of anarchy! Regional finalists of the coveted ‘Hard Rock Rising’ competition in 2013, the band have already supported acts including The Script, McFly, N-Dubz and Scouting for Girls. They’ve played some of the UK’s biggest arenas as well as collaborating with Newton Faulkner. The lads released their debut Album ‘Original Junkie’ in 2012.

-THE TWISTED DOLLS-

THE TWISTED DOLLS blend of catchy rock and roll blues mixed with power and showmanship has gained them a reputation as one of Manchester’s most exciting new live acts. Their acclaimed single ‘Bluesbreaker’ released in November was named one of the year’s best singles by new music website sonicbandwagon.com and they’ve been tipped for great things by BBC Introducing in Manchester. Taking musical influences from Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys and The White Stripes, the Dolls’ distinctive sound has been described as ‘a mix of fuzz, riffs and 60’s garage rock n’ blues.’

-THE BRIGHT BLACK-

Also on the main stage line-up are Middleton-based band THE BRIGHT BLACK. This funk and soul-inspired pop outfit launch their new single ‘Skin on Skin’ this month and have been recognised as one of the region’s best new unsigned bands, performing sell-out gigs across Manchester in recent months. They take influences from classic funk and soul artists like The Isley Brothers and Al Green while maintaining a high-energy sound symptomatic of their Mancunian roots. Their blend of upbeat feel good sounds with soulful lyrics was emphasised in their debut EP ‘Up Not Down’ recorded at 80 Hertz Studios, produced by George Atkins who has worked with Lily Allen and The Courteeners.

 -BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMPETITION 2016-

The Battle of the Bands competition has been a success with The Jackson Kay Band bagging first place, with Jack Kay saying ““It was absolutely fantastic to get the call to say we’d won … everyone in the band is buzzing about it and we can’t wait to play. Rochdale Feel Good Festival’s main stage is one we’ve always wanted to do – it will be one of the biggest gigs we’ve ever played so very exciting.””

  -MORE FESTIVITIES-

The festival includes live music across indoor venues, a main stage sponsored by The Flying Horse Hotel against the backdrop of the town hall, and Stage 2 – the community stage.  Chefs and food producers will host live cooking demonstrations throughout and the festival will also include the popular food market.

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

 -FOOD STAGE-

Watch the fantastic line up of chefs in action on the Food Stage on both days. Pick up tips, sample delicious treats or just relax in the festival atmosphere.

-CHRIS BAVIN-

Before his television career took off, Chris ran his green grocer business, ‘The Naked Grocer’ for 6 years, twice winning the ‘National Independent Retailer of the Year’ award. The business now focuses on direct home deliveries, supplying fruit and veg boxes for home, fruits for offices and wholesale catering. His ‘Eat Well For Less’ television series with Gregg Wallace and Lucy Jones sees them helping families across the UK, proving good food doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Chris also presented on BBC1’s primetime series ‘Tomorrows Food’ with comedian Dara O’Briain which revealed the awe-inspiring future of our food. He’s also co-presented BBC Daytime’s new series ‘Good Enough To Eat’ with Gloria Hunniford.

Saturday 20 August 2016 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

-NISHA KATONA-

The popular food writer, curry evangelist, teacher and owner of Manchester restaurant Mowgli will be sharing her quick and easy dishes with us for the first time. Nisha gave up her 20 year career as a barrister to focus on her passion for Indian food. Famous for creating simple dishes, a million miles away from the curry stereotype, her recipes are healthy, often vegan and always packed with fresh flavour. Her recipes promise authentic Indian dishes in 20 minutes using just 3 spices. Her first book – ‘Pimp my Rice’ was published in 2015 and she films for the Food Network as well as tweeting daily recipes to her 24,000 followers on Twitter.

Friday 19 August 2016 1pm and 3pm.

-AAZAM AHMAD-

Our ever popular BBC Fusion Chef Aazam will be appearing for a record ninth year. Indian food guru Aazam has appeared on television and radio and is a favourite at top food shows across the world, including the BBC Good Food Show. Born and bred in Manchester, he has a passion for his city and world cuisine. With his generosity of spirit and big heart, he is actively involved in charity work both locally and nationally.

Friday 19 August 2016 12 noon and 4pm
Saturday 20 August 2016 11:30am and 3:30pm with special guest Guo Yue

-ANDREW NUTTER-

Rochdale’s own Andrew Nutter has won multiple awards, including Lancashire Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and the Courvoisier Award. He’s a regular on radio and on television and hosted his own Channel 5 series ‘Utter Nutter’. Last November he was named ‘Rochdale Man of the Year’ honoured for his charity work and for representing the town nationally and internationally. He works alongside supermarket chains, promoting regional and local produce and is always a favourite at the world’s major cookery events.

Friday 19 August 2016 2pm
Saturday 20 August 2016 2:30pm

–GUO YUE- 

The renowned master of Chinese cookery, musician, author and restauranteur from London will bring his global cookery workshop to town on Saturday 20 August. Discovered by Peter Gabriel, Guo is a musician and chef in equal measure.  Growing up in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution, the talented guru is an outstanding soloist on the bamboo flute as well as a true master of Chinese cooking! Owner of The Bamboo Flute restaurant near Regent’s Park in London, Guo has worked on the soundtracks of several international films, including the Oscar-winning The Last Emperor and the theme for the Emmy award-winning Channel Four television documentary Beyond the Clouds. He’s also worked with artists including Peter Gabriel and ’. Guo cooks like a musician, with an emphasis on the colours, notes and rhythms that make up his collection of traditional and modern recipes. Author of ‘Music, Food and Love: A Memoir with Recipes’ and the award-winning children’s book ‘Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing’ Guo gives demonstrations all over the world, often combining them with performances on his bamboo and white jade flutes. His unique approach to cooking and his uplifting philosophy that bridges old and new China, have led to appearances on radio and television and articles in The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and Observer Food Monthly.

Guo Yue said he is looking forward to his first visit to Rochdale:
“I have cooked with Aazam many times so it is exciting to be asked to be part of this wonderful festival that I have heard so much about. In my demonstrations I hope to show how important music, food and love is in Chinese cooking.”