By Neil Harrison
From the people behind Manchester’s legendary Howling Rhythm club nights comes a brand new festival for 2017. Cotton Clouds Festival promises a packed, eclectic day of new and established acts across three stages, only a short jaunt outside of the city centre. With stages curated by none other than Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess, and the Northern Quarter’s hottest new bar/venue, Jimmy’s – as well as a main stage featuring 2017 summer festival favourites, The Coral and The Sugarhill Gang – the inaugural Cotton Clouds Festival looks set to get off the ground with a bang.
Set on the border between the North West’s industrial powerhouse past and the outstanding natural beauty of the Peak District, Cotton Clouds Festival is the first event of such magnitude to be held in the area since The Jam’s now legendary performance at Saddleworth Art Festival in 1979. Organisers, Rick Lees (formerly of renowned Manchester rockers, Twisted Wheel), his brother Max and local entrepreneur, Luke Stanley, will be hoping that this new festival can establish itself quickly as mainstay of the UK summer festival scene. Looking through the superbly curated line up on offer for 2017, there’s no reason not to get excited about Cotton Clouds Festival’s future.
Following triumphant sets at Latitude, Tramlines and Kendal Calling, The Coral will bring their distinctive brand of psychedelic indie pop to Saddleworth Cricket Club to close proceedings in style. Meanwhile, after their wonderfully insane and nostalgic set at Beat-Herder, hip hop legends The Sugarhill Gang will once more thrill fans old and new on the Saturday evening.
Away from the mainstage, local favourites PINS continue a summer of exceptional gigs, playing the Jimmy’s stage in what promises to be a must-catch headline act from the hottest punk prospect of the moment. Elsewhere, there’s further North West talent on offer in the shape of electro-dance-rock aficionados, The Whip, hilarious ukulele rockers, The Everly Pregnant Brothers and alt-rock potential from The Blinders and Cupids.
With a host of stellar acts, activities and entertainment lined up for kids and big kids alike, speciality food and drink, and tickets for less than forty quid, Cotton Clouds Festival has positioned itself as potentially one of the most accessible – and exciting – musical events of the summer. This is your chance to say you were there when it all began. Don’t miss it.
For full line up details, tickets and more visit cottoncloudsfestival.com
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