Summer In The Park

Food, Drink, Music

SUMMER IN THE PARK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES EXCITING MUSIC LINE UP

Summer in the Park, an exciting new festival taking place in July, has revealed the music line up. Manchester favourites, I am Kloot and Stephen Fretwell will headline the Saturday stage, while the Sunday stage will be headlined by Mr Scruff, Liam Frost and The Earlies.

Other artists performing at the two-day festival, which celebrates everything that is excellent about food and drink in the region, include Liam Frost, Bonebox, I am Buffallo, Josephine Oniyama, Lucy and the Caterpillar, Travelling Band, BigFinn, The Sylvia’s, Jim Noir and The Crane Builders.

As well as featuring some of the very best musical talent, the veritable ‘food and drink concert’, which takes place 12 – 13 July in Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, will feature top chefs, as well as the regions best food brands and local producers. Split into designated areas, the festival will offer something for everyone:

• Dine in the Park – Try and buy from some of Manchester’s best restaurants
• Drink in the Park – A chance to sample and buy from a stunning selection of wines, champagnes and Greater Manchester ales
• Producers in the Park – Meet some of the regions best producers and sample the delights of local produce
• Play in the Park – Something for the kids…Play in the Park will create a haven for the little ones. From a baby disco to fruit kebab making, Play in the Park has it covered
• Learn in the Park – Pick up some useful cooking tips from some of the best chefs as they let you into their culinary secrets. A full programme of demonstrations will take place in Learn in the Park giving you the chance to learn all about food and drink, as well as meeting some of the best known chefs
• Tea in the Park - A dedicated home for the finest and most diverse, teas, coffees, juices, smoothies, cakes and biscuits that Manchester has to offer
• Feast in the Park – As evening draws in, the inimitable Robert Owen Brown will be hosting a traditional feast in the park, featuring a huge Ox-Roast and seasonal vegetables. The communal banquet will kick off at tea time for those who haven’t already filled up during the day, rounding off a perfect day in the park...
• Music in the Park - What better way to set off a haven of food and drink than live music on the main stage from some Manchester’s best artists, including:

I am Kloot
Manchester-based I AM KLOOT are Johnny Bramwell (singer/songwriter and guitarist), bass player Peter Jobson and drummer Andy Hargreaves. A Manchester institution, I am Kloot have acheived critical acclaim in their near-10 year existence. They've recently released their 4th studio album 'Moolah Rouge' to massive plaudits - "the best band to come out of Manchester in the last 20 years." The Independent.

Mr Scruff
Stockport born, superstar DJ, Mr Scruff is known for his playful and summery approach to breakbeat, and his love of 'nice cups of tea' - who better to provide laid back beats especially for Summer in the Park on Sunday evening.

Liam Frost
Liam Frost, real name Liam Pickering, is a singer / songwriter, from Manchester. "The deepest breath of fresh air mixed with burning melancholy, Liam Frost is an unbelievable gem of new talent…" – Lianne Steinberg, Music Week.

Stephen Fretwell
He is known for his curly mop of ginger hair, sombre lyrics and gravelly deep voice. He names his main influence as Bob Dylan. His songs are derivative of Dylan's work, and he learnt to play guitar by playing Dylan's songs on his grandfather's old, unused guitar. His debut album Magpie, was released in November 2004. The first single taken from the album was "Run", which is also used as the theme tune to BBC3 comedy Gavin & Stacey.

The Earlies
The Earlies are a band formed by Christian Madden and Giles Hatton from Lancashire, and Brandon Carr and John Mark Lapham from the Unite States. They are notable for blending elements from a wide range of musical genres - The Independent described their music as "a very English kind of folk-psychedelia (think Sergeant Pepper-era Beatles, or The Beta Band) with a smattering of Beach Boys harmonies and the grandiose American spaciousness of, say, Mercury Rev"

Bone-Box
"A beguiling musical tapestry...there really aren't any bones to pick with a record as fulfilling as this. Bone-box are definitely out there on their own!" KERRANG
"Lyrics that sometimes sound like Milton...a sound that somehow transplants Manchester to a plain near Tucson" Q MAGAZINE

Jim Noir
Noir's music has been described as psychedelic pop electronica and compared to The Beach Boys, Super Furry Animals, The Beta Band, The Bees and fellow Mancunian Badly Drawn Boy.
“uniquely loveable...the surprise soundtrack of summer 2008"
4 Stars – Q Magazine

Travelling Band
Winners of Glastonbury new talent 2008, The Travelling Band are a Manchester acoustic-led group.

The Sylvia’s
Manchester new alt super group, featuring twin sisters Stef and Sami Rose, ex-Simply Red drummer Chris Joyce and Jonny Evans on guitar.

The Crane Builders
Indie five-piece Cranebuilders formed in 2000 and are proud to count Radio 1 dJs Steve Lamaq and Mark Radcliffe amongst their fans.
Their debut album ‘Sometimes you hear through someone else’ was released in 2005 by Skinny Dog Records and lead to a tour culminating with an appearance at SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The Cranebuilders perform their own brand of bittersweet pop and are regularly found to be touring the UK. The band are now preparing for a US tour in the autumn and are putting together the finishing touches to the lastest recording.

Josephine Oniyama
'She is one of this city's most original and stunning talents' BBC Manchester.
‘Make a note of the name. We are going to be hearing a lot more from her' Uncut Magazine. ‘A precious new song writing talent' Time Out.

BigFinn
Diverse, cinematic, lyrical, art school rock. BigFinn have big ideas…big melodies…big emotion… Bigfinn write songs that wrap themselves around your head – dramatic, colourful, all enveloping. Singer Martin Travers delivers a full throttle performance which owes a lot to his heroes.

Its a Buffalo
Fresh from touring with Manchester’s latest success story, The Courteeners, Its a Buffalo are a Mancunian 4 piece set for big things.
"Upbeat pop with a lo-fi, alt-country delivernence." Flux Magazine

Lucy and the Caterpillar
Drawing comparisons to Regina Spektor and describing herself as a cross between Vashti Bunyan and Destiny’s Child, Lucy’s style is inimitable. A refreshing antithesis to the sickly-sweet, tasteless chart pop currently dominating the Top-40. Drenched in honesty and openness, her style is unique, and the songs speak for themselves.

Siobhan Hanley, Festival Producer said: ‘We’re trying to bring together everyone’s three favourite things in life, in what we think is the best City in the world. The idea is to bring a cost-effective, unique and exciting family day out to the people of Manchester this summer, one which doesn’t exclude anyone - from serious foodies and real beer fans, to music lovers and kids. We also want to shout about the excellence in Manchester of the local restaurants, chefs and producers, and do this in a very Mancunian way by involving live music, and even a kids disco!
Finally, we want to use the event to raise awareness of some local and national campaigns... watch this space’