Live Music Stages

Music to your ears

There’s lots of great live music to get your toes tapping whilst you sit and take a breather from the bustling festival site.

Waith a daily programme of live music on our main stage and acoustic bar, around 60 performers and bands (11am to 10pm except Monday when we finish at 6pm!) all for free and there’s a bar too (please note after 9pm these areas are over 18’s only).

The full line up will be released nearer the time, but we’ve got some cracking headliners…   

Line-ups subject to change

Feast your eyes on this
spectacular musical banquet

With a starter of the best artisan stalls around, mains options including Celebrity Chef Demos or Bottomless Brunch, finish on a high with a dessert of live music acts at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival, sponsored by Peel L&P.

More than 70 performers will descend on the two live stages, with a variety of music and entertainment from around the world.

From Irish dancers, choirs, soul, funk, jazz, folk, Latin American, indie, rock, dance and pop, there is something for everybody to enjoy while you soak up the festival atmosphere.

Music lovers can revel in the delights of national artists we well as local performers including Tommy Govan, Mike Roberts, Danny Quin, Conor Peploe, Will Edgar, Holly Jenkinson and John Doyle.

With performers from 9 to 80 years old, the festival welcomes all ages at the Festival Main Stage on Le Mans Crescent and the Acoustic Stage on Victoria Square.

Headlining on Friday and making their full band debut at the festival, will be Bolton’s own, The Shed Project plus special guests.

The band, influenced by the Madchester sound of The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, are joined by Marseille, The Jace Campbell Band and The Marbellas.

The fun continues on Saturday as highlights include loop based, live music dance trio, Scratch Trio, performing popular classic dance anthems.

In addition, alongside the UK’s premier 1980’s Electronica/New Wave tribute band, Electromantics are 5-piece band, Baiana Band, playing Brazillian jazz, pop, funk and soul.

Sunday is equally as entertaining with Stax of Soul, a 9-piece soul band born and bred in Greater Manchester, headlining as part of their 40th anniversary tour.

If you missed the recent tour, then this one’s for you – joining them is Bolton born Redd delivering a rocking set of Pink’s greatest hits.

Entertaining the Latin music lovers of Manchester and the UK, is Guacamaya Latin Band, with the best South American rhythms and most popular songs in Europe.

Last but not least and joining the line up on Bank Holiday Monday is Bhangra Smash Up, a 3-piece, high energy drumming band playing to popular chart and dance music.

Closing the festivities are 5-piece party band, The Shivers, covering your favourite party songs and guilty pleasures.  The perfect way to celebrate the festival turning 18!

The live music stages are free to enter and no tickets are required.  But you can quench your thirst at one of the bars while you sing along to your favourite tunes.

As if this wasn’t enough, there’s The Afterparty with Gok Wan & Co to tuck into in the Albert Halls Theatre on the Saturday evening.

A full 7 hours of house and dance classics from not only Gok Wan himself but a feast of well-known guest DJ’s including Phats & Small, Sweet Female Attitude and Rio Fredrika.