With a 10-month wait until Rochdale’s annual Feel Good Festival brings two days of food and live music to residents, councillors have already started discussing funding options for next year.
The event, usually held in the last weekend of August, has become a fixture in the town’s social calendar and has taken place in each of the last seven years.
This year, huge crowds flocked to Rochdale town centre for the event headlined by former Brit nominees The Feeling and featuring a performance from Neville Staple, member of British ska icons The Specials.
In the past it has attracted performers such as American hip-hop group Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Motown legends Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, as well as celebrity chefs like Gino D’Acampo and Ainsley Harriot.
Mark Widdup, director of economy and environment at Rochdale Council, said: “The council is very keen to see this popular event take place again next year and will consider funding options in the coming months.”
With this year’s festivities drawing a crowd of more than 10,000 people over two days, the event is clearly a popular one with the people of Rochdale.
Regular festival-goer Aaron Beresford, 19, has said that the continuation of the Feel Good Festival can only be good news for the town.
“At this year’s festival the whole of the town centre was rocking and smiling,” he said.
“There was no trouble and it gave the town some good coverage for once. It makes everything in the town feel a little bit sweeter.”
When asked if the festival was a worthwhile event for the town to stage, 27-year-old Will Maxwell replied: “Definitely! It brings the town together and there is always a good atmosphere about the place when it’s on.”
Image courtesy of Tim Parry via Flickr, with thanks.
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