Biggest hits on main stage as bands line-up for ‘Feel Good’ Friday

Marbelhead Johsnon will be playing the biggest hits of Blur, Paul Weller, The Verve, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Pulp and Oasis at Rochdale Feel Good Festival

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Britpop hits and songs from one of the world’s biggest bands will fill the stage on the Friday evening line-up at this summer’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

Marbelhead Johnson, will be bringing their ‘Britpop experience’ to the main stage on the opening night of this year’s 10th anniversary festival. Named after a 90s anthem, the five-piece pay tribute to the British Britpop music scene, bringing recreated hits up-to-date in a powerful combination of passion and quality akin to the harder-hitting sound that the bands produced in their live shows.

Playing songs from Blur, Paul Weller, The Verve, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Pulp and Oasis their set will feature the anthems that brought British alternative rock into the mainstream. On tour across the UK and Europe they’ve already supported bands including SPACE and The Bluetones, but this will be their debut at the Rochdale festival.

Also on the Friday evening line-up is R.E.M. by Stipe – a tribute band described as ‘awesome’ by none other than R.E.M.’s own lead singer Michael Stipe. Billed as ‘the definitive tribute to one of the biggest sounds in rock’ they’ve performed the songs of R.E.M. to tens of thousands of people worldwide.

R.E.M. built a towering back catalogue that reached from the addictive highs of Shiny Happy People down to the reflective darkness of Everybody Hurts, covering everything else in between. Expect a set packed with hits as well as some lesser known gems, including the likes of Losing My Religion, the Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Man on the Moon, and The One I Love.

Ben Boothman, owner of main stage sponsor The Flying Horse Hotel, said: “I’ve seen them many times and can tell you both these bands are amazing, playing tracks that millions of people have fallen in love with over the years. Brilliant covers bands playing one hundred percent live are rare, but these two are absolutely superb.

"I can’t wait to see Marbelhead Johnson on the big stage and fans of R.E.M are in for a treat. I look forward to seeing the crowd singing along and having an amazing evening. It’s the first time we’ve run the big stage on the Friday as well as the Saturday, and I can assure you these two will get the party started.”

Marbelhead Johnson and R.E.M by Stipe will be joined by previously announced headliner Razorlight, Manchester’s Baked A La Ska, The Bright Black, The Karpets, fronted by Tom Hingley, Honeyfeet, the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band and the Delphina Kings, plus more to be confirmed.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August, for another showcase of entertainment, food and culture.