Feel Good folk – Rochdale festival to include free Sunday stage

Posted by on 28 Jun 2024

Rochdale Feel Good Festival has revealed more about this year’s line-up, including a free programme of live music on the Friday evening (9 August) and an afternoon of free folk music on Sunday 11 August.                                     

A host of exciting, internationally acclaimed artists will be taking to the main stage at Rochdale Town Hall Square on the Sunday from early afternoon, produced by Sound Roots and funded by Arts Council England.

Sunday afternoon’s free live showcase will be headlined by Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet, returning to Rochdale Feel Good Festival for the first time since 2017. Renowned for their infectious, floor-thumping dance rhythms, on-stage banter and mischievous energy, the exhilarating live act is fronted by BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year award-winner Ríoghnach of The Breath and Lí Ban. A staple on the festival circuit, their distinctive sonic signature spans everything from big-band swing to Alabama blues-tinged folk. Joining them will be Marvara, a high-energy party band featuring some of the finest musicians Belgium and the Nordic countries have to offer. Winners of 2023’s Flanders Folk Award for ‘Most Promising Band’, they were also nominated for ‘Best Live Band.’

Peter’s Field, a new Rochdale made musical marking one of the most momentous days in working class history will also make its live debut on the Sunday line-up. Written by award-winning songwriter and member of The Young’uns, Sean Cooney, it tells a story of struggle, tyranny, liberty and hope against the backdrop of the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. Cooney will be joined by twice Mercury-nominated artist Eliza Carthy MBE and critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sam Carter.

Sunday afternoon performances run from 1pm to 5pm and admission is free with no tickets required.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday 9 August will be a ‘Feel Good Fringe’ – a series of free un-ticketed indoor gigs at ten venues across the town centre. More details on this and all the acts playing at indoor venues during the festival will be announced in July.

On Saturday the festival’s main stage will be headlined by previously announced indie rock crowd-pleasers Ocean Colour Scene, Lottery Winners, Heather Small, the voice of M People, alongside soul, pop and funk artist Toucan, ska band Madame Claude, local band Atlas,  DJ Dave Sweetmore and another act soon to be revealed.  Saturday main stage tickets are £15 at rochdale.gov.uk/feelgoodfestival or in person at Middleton Arena.

More information at rochdale.gov.uk/FeelGoodFestival. For the latest festival updates on Facebook, go to facebook.com/feelgoodfestival, connect with @FeelGoodFest on X and @Rochdale.Creates on Instagram. On all social media search #FeelGoodFest24

Rochdale Development Agency is working with Arts Council England and folk music charity Sound Roots to support local live music. The festival is funded by the council together with ticket sales and sponsorship from The Flying Horse Hotel, Premier Kia, The Royal Toby Hotel, the Bee Network, BRSK full fibre broadband and Rochdale Riverside.