Morton Stanley Festival line-up revealed

Buy photos » Morton Stanley Park. Picture by Nick Hands 5211009NHR1

THE LINE-UP for this year’s Morton Stanley Festival has been announced and it promises to be bigger and better showcasing both the best of local talent and international acts.

The extended three day festival will run from Friday to Sunday (August 17 to 19) and staying true to its roots Redditch acts will takeover Friday evening.

The free weekend will also showcase acts from across the world on the two main stages, giving a global flavour to the festival.

While crowds can roam to music by the South American Samba band, Rajasthani Brass and Chinese Drumming, festival fans can get hands on with circus skills and Taiko Drumming.

The family fun weekend will also have a fairground for children, a craft fayre and a farmers’ market, with food and drink available all day.

And visitors can also spend time in the community interest area experiencing everything from the offerings of Redditch Chinese Association to the Redditch Arts Centre.

Coun Luke Stephens, responsible for leisure and tourism on the borough council, said: “Morton Stanley Festival is one of the biggest and most popular events in the town’s social calendar. We have a fantastic line-up and an even bigger range of stalls and activities on offer this year – and best of all, most of it is free.”

Local bands will perform on the Friday from 6pm to 11pm with the majority of stalls and activities available from 12pm to 11pm on the Saturday and 11am to 6pm on the Sunday.

Some stall space remains in the craft fayre marquee for local people and businesses wanting to exhibit and sell craft items, at a cost of £10 per day.

For more information or to book a stall, call Val Wilson on 01527 534030.

The full line-up: Emma Skipp and Band, Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, Redditch Gospel Community Choir, Khan Brothers Qawwali, Legacy, Ska Cubano, Kawa Circus, Perch Creek Family Jugg Band, Hedgerow Crawlers, Baghdaddies, Rural Media Company, Viva La Coldplay, Jaipur Kawa Indian Brass Band.

Local bands include PYT, Endorphins, More for Me, The Charmers, Sharks v Bears, Thirteen Shots, The Angry Bombs, Khaos Theory, Departure, Cathodes, A Poetic Yesterday, Vegas Assault, The Callout, Luke Truth & the Synth, The Small Print, The Semitones, Hyde, Eta Carinae, Switchplay and Captain Jeffrey.

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