Twenty years on from the first festival in Victoria Park, the legendary Widnes based music festival Widstock returns!
This year, it will be hosted by the Mersey Hotel (The Snig) on the banks of the River Mersey on Saturday 10 August
It started as a Council event and was originally funded by the Splash fund. It is now organised by the community.
Look forward to a full day of bands, DJs, food, drink and family fun. There will be something for everyone from 2pm till late, indoors and outdoors.
Two of the most original and successful local bands will feature at the festival. Zen Baseballbat, the legendary Widnes ska band are back with a new album, electro and reggae influences and more arty tales of working class life. The line-up features former Halton Borough Council designer, Gary Gleavey.
Artrockers Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies, fronted by Widnes born Pete, are celebrating 10 year as one of the most respected bands on the UK and European punk circuit with their ‘This is Kitchencore’ album.
The band plays Widstock the weekend after playing Rebellion Festival, the biggest punk festival in the World in Blackpool Winter Gardens, alongside likes of The Stranglers and The Damned.
Widstock will also welcome the Liverpool rockabilly kings The Swingin’ Bricks with their irresistible raw Rock & Roll/Rockabilly show and The Quicks, the highly thought of alternative rock band, fronted by the respected songwriter Tony Swift.
The legendary and always entertaining Clive Little will also be appearing with his band the stomping Blues Rockers The Native Narcotics.
The festival is looking to cater for all tastes so will also include some of the best local cover bands such as Indie Dogs, the great 4 piece hitting all the classics from the likes of Oasis, Kings of Leon, The Beatles, Queen, The Killers and many more and The Band of 3, a great new covers band with some surprises thrown into the mix along with the obvious crowd pleasers.
Some great acoustic acts will open the festival such as Greg Oldfield, the popular Widnes born singer/songwriter who was previously in Great and Lady Soul, Red Monk, featuring Carl Hornby and Anno Brandreth and Pete Moran, a Widnes native, now living in Cumbria with music is heavily influenced by folk, traditional styles and of course his old home town!
There will also be cool sounds from DJ Sid and Little Indie Night DJ’s.
As well as the music, the Female Fortuna Society (FFS) will be present at the festival.
This is a local community group for women, who do great work in sharing ideas for a more well balanced life style and in doing so, helping the wider community.
Widstock is back! Tickets are £10 from The Mersey Hotel and online from See Tickets and the link on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/widstocksnig.