Cottoning on to Saddleworth’s newest musical extravaganza

FORGET Glastonbury, Benicassim, Kendal Calling or Leeds Fest. Saddleworth now boasts a music Festival of its own.

Cotton Clouds is the brainchild of local brothers Max and Rick Lees and it will be hosted at Saddleworth Cricket Club on Saturday, August 12.

It promises to be the area’s biggest musical event since the Jam played Greenfield nearly 40 years ago.

Tickets are already on sale for the one-day extravaganza with Merseysiders, the Coral, head lining the main stage.

Support includes hip hop artists, the Sugarhill Gang, Nick Heyward, formerly frontman of Haircut 100, and DJ sets by Inspiral Carpet keyboard legend, Clint Boon, and Gareth Brooks.

Cotton Clouds also provides a showcase for local bands like Gardenback from Delph and Mossley four piece, Proletariat.

Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess, will be bringing his Tim Peaks Diner to the event, headlined by London pop duo The Rhythm Method.

A second indoor stage will be curated by Northern Quarter bar Jimmy’s, opened last year by One Night Only brothers George and Jimmy Craig.

Rick and Max are no strangers to the local music scene having previously been members of Twisted Wheel.

Since then they have had eight years working the festival scene across the UK and Europe while launching funk and soul club night Howling Rhythm at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester.

Now they are set to put Saddleworth on the world music map.

They say: “Saddleworth is a beautiful setting for a festival and has a rich musical heritage.

But there hasn’t been a music event of this scale here since the Jam.