Bingley Music Live
Aug 30-1 Sept – Myrtle Park
What a blast! Wonderberry Freaks Out live,
on stage with CHIC at Bingley Music Live
In our second year as PR and Marketing for festival, Bingley Music Live (BML), the team were really spoilt when it came to a spectacular close with CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers thrilling thousands with a massive disco sing-along and inviting dozens on stage to share the experience. All in all, it was a triumphant end to a superb weekend. The press office was buzzing and the photographers pit was fizzing all weekend. For the team it was an adrenaline filled few days as we capitalised on the momentum of all our efforts last year and welcomed twice as many journalists and photographers to this year’s festival.
For the 7th consecutive year Bingley Music Live welcomed an estimated 40,000 revellers over three days to Myrtle Park. Audiences enjoyed a hugely varied mix of music from 43 bands. The festival remained true to its ethos of supporting local talent with a strong northern contingent featuring in the line-up, from headliners through to local unsigned bands.
Outstanding performances on Friday came from Sheffield’s 80’s electro-popsters The Human League and the ever exuberant, original rudeboy, Neville Staples. The second stage was brought to rousing close with the harmonies of local Leeds band The Dunwells.
Saturday afternoon featured lively performances from the Britain’s Got Talent finalists Loveable Rogues, and UK grime artist Tinchy Strider. The Bingley crowd gave a rapturous send off to the former Dr Feelgood frontman Wilko Johnson who played his last scheduled performance. The ever inventive, snake hipped headliners Primal Scream also dedicating one of their songs to the R&B legend and punk pioneer who has terminal cancer.
Pirate Sunday arrived at Bingley with many people dressing up in their Captain Jack Sparrow finery. The day kicked off with Halifax four-piece St Somebody taking to the stage with great confidence. The end of the day was brought to a close by ‘The Hitmaker’ and his white suited ensemble. Everybody Dance, Dance Dance Dance, I’m Coming Out, Upside Down, He’s The Greatest Dancer, We Are Family, Let’s Dance, Freak Out and Good Times the roll call of classic disco numbers were an undisputed highlight of the weekend.
The annual festival is organised by Bradford Council. Phil Barker, Assistant Director of Sport and Leisure comments; “The Bingley Music Live team has once again delivered an incredibly successful festival that has run very smoothly. Everyone has worked incredibly hard provide a professionally organised event that’s accessible, varied and caters for everyone. The number of attendees this year demonstrates that the local community really supports and values Bingley Music Live and the feedback we’ve received has been tremendous. BML has proved once again to be a wonderful asset to the area; promoting tourism and generating additional revenue for the local economy.”
Wonderberry comment: ‘I was going to say I’m getting a bit old for this but nah! With the Human League strutting their stuff, an emotional and powerful performance by Wilko, cool sounds from Tinchy, Katy B and Theme Park not to mention my new love ‘The Lake Poets’, no one can be too old! But the cherry on the icing had to be dancing on stage with Nile and his band, we didn’t know what to do, film, photograph, dance, skype, scream, sing, tweet or all of the above. Some of the photographers were still with us even though the pit was closed, but unfortunately most of the journos had uploaded their last bit of editorial and were heading off into the crowd so they missed their chance – shame. We had lots more TV coverage this year (even though we were the only dry festival last year) as well as radio, so it’s nice to know the festival reached many more people in their homes this year. The national press were also very responsive and seem to have finally got it when it comes to what makes BML so different from other festivals.’
Digi Berry- MD
Bingley Music Live
Aug 31-2 Sept-Myrtle Park
Bingley Music Live Entertains the Masses
Last weekend’s annual Yorkshire music festival, Bingley Music Live, has been hailed a triumphant success. From the cheerful trumpets of the New York Brass Band welcoming visitors into the venue on Friday afternoon to the final bass beats delivered by dub-step pioneers Nero during Sunday night’s closing performance; Bingley Music Live 2012 has delighted thousands of music fans.
For the 6th consecutive year Myrtle Park opened its gates to welcome an estimated 37,000 revellers during the three day festival. Audiences enjoyed a diverse programme of entertainment, with 62 bands playing over three stages. Outstanding performances on Friday came from Motown legend Martha Reeves and ‘Madchester’ favourites The Charlatans. Between their shows BML were delighted to help arrange a surprise engagement – congratulations to Sue Lomax and Mick Hetherington who will marry on the 13th October!
Saturday brought popular local band The Pigeon Detectives, chart-topper DJ Fresh and the irrepressible Razorlight to the main stage. While highlights from the second Raise the Roof stage were packed out sets from hot newcomer Jake Bugg, and the flamboyant King Charles. The night was brought to a close with a spectacular firework display.
As well as an incredible lightshow from headliners Nero, Sunday also brought a hugely energetic performance from Clement Marfo and the Frontline. The talented Maverick Sabre and White Lies were also enthusiastically received while comedy foursome Ade Edmonson, Phill Jupitus, Roland Riveron and Neil Innis – performing as The Idiot B*stard Band – introduced BML to the new musical genre ‘pub-step’.
New for 2012 was the introduction of the Musicians Centre Stage which gave 20 local, unsigned bands the opportunity to showcase their talent. This area was located next to an excellently equipped Kids Zone and the new Wooderland Trader area. Many people came dressed in fancy dress and the carnival atmosphere was enhanced by street entertainers and cabaret performers, including the hilarious turbo grannies.
Thousands of revellers, armed with wellies, waterproofs and camping chairs, came fully prepared for whatever the British summer decided to deliver. Fortunately, the weather chose to smile on Bingley and everyone enjoyed beautiful, sunny afternoons filled with fantastic music.
The annual festival is organised by Bradford Council. Phil Barker assistant director of sport and leisure comments; “The Bingley Music Live team has worked incredibly hard to evolve and develop this great event to ensure it’s accessible, varied and caters for everyone. This year we have introduced many new features and have attracted some very big headline acts. The feedback we’ve received from the general public, the bands and the media and has been phenomenal. The intention is to continue to grow the profile of BML in future years, as it is a wonderful asset to the area; promoting tourism and generating additional revenue for the local economy.
“We also really appreciate everyone’s support this year as we all know times are hard, so ‘thank you’ to everyone that came and enjoyed the weekend. We genuinely value our audience and want people to return year on year, to demonstrate this we’ve released a limited number of early bird tickets with the price frozen at £40 (+ booking fee). In 2013 BML will continue to deliver a top price in tough times without sacrificing any of the quality it currently delivers.”
Early bird tickets can be purchased via www.bingleymusiclive.com/tickets. For regular updates please log on to www.bingleymusiclive.com or follow @BingleyFestival
http://www.thebeatsurrender.co.uk/reviews/gigs/bingley-music-live-2012
http://traceywelchphotography.wordpress.com
http://www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Nero
http://www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Bingley-Music-Live-Closes-With-A-Bang
