Published at 11:08, Thursday, 07 July 2011

COCKERMOUTH Rock Festival promises its best ever line-up for the 2011 event.

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This year’s three-day festival from July 22 to 24, at Wellington Farm, Cockermouth, will include among its headliners influential 70s pop group Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.

Harley is responsible for classics such as Judy Teen, Mr Soft and Sebastian, but he’s best known for the number one single Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me).

The bill will also include Britpop band The Bluetones and Welsh rappers Goldie Lookin’ Chain.

Adam Fieck from Babyshambles will bring his new band Roses Kings Castles, and Tom Hingley, former lead man of the Inspiral Carpets, will return to Cumbria with his band The Lovers.

Other top bands include Funeral for a Friend and Gallows, as well as the best on the local music scene.

There will also be appearances in the dance tent from DJ First Rate, of Scratch Perverts and Jilted Generation.

This summer’s new-look, family-friendly event also includes a new green area, funfair, yurts and bell tents to hire and the stilt-walking, fire-breathing, ball-balancing, juggling comedy of the Astral Circus.

The green area will be powered by renewable energy that will host live music and entertainment, food stalls and cafes, workshops, and an ethical market, healing area and fun activities for families and children.

Clint Stamper, CockRock chairman, said: “The main emphasis this year is to show it is not just a festival for young music fans. There is lots for families as well. The green area will be jampacked with things for kids to do.

“There will also be a plug-in-and-play open mic tent where you turn up, chalk your name on the board and play.”

Now in its seventh year, Cockrock was set up by Chris Smithson and friends in 2004 when their friend Cameron Wood damaged his spine in a cycling accident and had to be rescued by the Great North Air Ambulance.

The group came up with the idea of a non-profit, annual rock festival with proceeds going to the air ambulance and Cockermouth Mountain Rescue.

Although the festival has grown in size, as has the quality of performers, organisers say the ethos of a small, friendly festival offering a wide range of music is still the main principle, with capacity kept to a maximum of 5,000 people.

The Bluetones had a hit with Slight Return in 1996, which reached number two in the charts, following it up with another three top 10 albums as well. Their sixth and latest album, A New Athens, was released last year.

Goldie Lookin’ Chain started around 2001 in a blaze of dodgy bling, track suits and strange Welsh hip hop patois, and band member Maggot went on to star on Celebrity Big Brother.

Adult weekend with camping is £50, adult weekend is £45, 14 and under weekend with camping is £25, 14 and under weekend is £20 and a family weekend, with free camping, (two adults, two aged 14 and under) is £120.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk