/FESTIVAL THERE’S MUSIC IN THEM THERE HILLS...
HEAD for the Hills wraps up festival season this weekend - and it’s grown into a pretty big deal over the last few years. The renamed Ramsbottom Festival boasts Maximo Park, Beth Orton, The Stranglers, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) and Manchester’s Dutch Uncles among the headliners, as well as a jam-packed arts programme and some belting food and drink.
The three-day event, now in its seventh year at Ramsbottom Cricket Club, drew 12,000 people last year.
As well as the festival itself, Ramsbottom is well worth exploring thanks to some local food and drink treasures such as pubs Eagle And Child and Hearth of The Ram and hidden gems such as Levanter and Baraxturi. Here’s what happens across the three days... Today Indie pop champs Maximo Park headline tonight. The band is touring the UK and Europe following the release of sixth studio album, Risk To Exist.
Also on the bill are local band Larkins - shortlisted by CityLife as one of the city’s best breakthrough artists last year. American desert music trio 3hattrio and Mancunian four-piece Corella are also worth catching.
Republic Music Management will take over T’other Stage, bringing a selection of the north west’s best new bands with them. Saytr Play, False Advertising, New York Tourists, No Hot Ashes, Kashmere and Stillia all feature.
Scruff of the Neck take over the big-top tent today and tomorrow with the Smaller Rooms stage.
Artists set to perform tonight are Plastic House, Clay, Fosette and The Opera Comic. Tomorrow Beth Orton headlines an eclectic day featuring Manc indie band Dutch Uncles and ska vocalist Neville Staple.
Indigo Velvet, Ailbhe Reddy, The Dantevilles, Glass Caves and Beans on Toast also play.
Salford’s Blueprint Studios take on T’other stage, with Becky Langan, Yarbo, and Heavy On The Magic. Scruff of the Neck’s Saturday selection features rock and pop duo Skies, Mancunian band ist ist, Corella, Germany’s Giant Rocks, Ayakara and Manchester’s Ambient Young Monarch. Sunday The Stranglers close the festival with the final headline show. Alexis Taylor, co-founder of Hot Chip, also performs, as do Tom Hickox and Will Varley, riotous six-piece Skinny Lister, Macclesfield’s Cassia and slide guitarist Martin Harley. By The River stage highlights include Hawk, Fell,The Exacter and Tankus the Henge, Pennine Pop and Take me to Church host family raves.
Some tickets are still available, at £29 for a day ticket and £72 for a weekend ticket, with discounts for children and families. Youngsters under the age of six go free.
Camping pitches are available from £18 per night or from £39 for the whole weekend.