Urban Folk for urban folk The New Islington Festival returns
31 July 2007
The New Islington Festival (September 1, 2007) this year features over 70 acts in 11 performance areas; embracing the diversity of Manchester culture with exclusive performances.
There will be exclusive performances from Rhythm n Grime, Kate and Gregg's Boat Band and Taffy Thomas the Storyteller.
The festival, which celebrates the creation of New Islington, Manchester's newest and hippest area, promises an extravagant and eclectic meeting of cultures and forms of expression, culminating in the creation of a new musical art form - Urban Folk.
The Urban Folk workshop, which will take place in the weeks running up to the event, features the talents of the rising stars of Manchester hip hop, Rhythm n Grime, combined with those of Kate and Gregg's Boat Band to teach young local people about the similarities in their roots of their culture - resulting in a performance piece for the festival. Local acts are given the opportunity to perform on the Urban Folk bandstand, where Manchester's most impressive musicians and entertainers, including bands, singers and dancers, have been invited to showcase their talent.
Continuing the Urban Folk theme, further highlights include Nu Rave Sheep, the Drum and Barge, Mixtape Morris Dancers and Graffiti Canal Artists, all of which have to be seen to be believed.
Lisa Ashurst, Chair of the New Islington Festival Ltd, comments: "The New Islington Festival celebrates the creation of New Islington and so there's a strong community focus. Manchester is blessed with a wealth of artistic talent and we want to embrace as much of this as possible. We're building on the success of last year by creating several new stages and giving the local community even more opportunity to showcase their talents."
The New Islington Festival will take place from 2pm til 8pm, Saturday 1st September. The festival is free to attend.
Media contact Roz Hughes, tel: 0161 223 1155
