Nantwich Food Festival plans Entertainment and even more Entertainment

Nantwich Food Festival entertainment is always eagerly anticipated and Festival Town Centre manager, Graham Witter, has really pulled out the stops.

Friday night entertainment is always great fun; we will again have the great Studio S dancers and those wonderful people from Circus in a Box, performing their amazing tricks on stilts plus fire breathing; the Festival will certainly start with a bang thanks to the Cheshire Constabulary Corps of Drums.

Many town businesses will stay open later than usual on Festival Friday, and in addition to the food courts that stay open until Festival Friday closes at 8pm, there will be our favourite bars and restaurants to keep us fed until much later.

Add to the above entertainment, over the weekend there is the Punch & Judy, Walking Magic, the Balloon Man, solo musicians including Paul Armer, and much more, so it’s clear that there will be plenty to entertain us; plus of course Graham hasn’t forgotten the much loved brass bands on Festival Saturday and Sunday. The Funky Choir and Minstrels of Mischief complete the Friday Town Centre line-up.

Continuing the entertainment theme, the two live music stages are sponsored by Snugbury’s at Love Lane, and by Nantwich Hearing Centre for the Bowling Green music stage; the Festival organisers thank them sincerely for their sponsorship and are very pleased to welcome both of these local businesses as returning Silver Sponsors.

Silk FM will manage both music stages and provide the continuity to ensure that there is plenty of music and interest to keep us all entertained.

Kevin Lemon tells us that he has organised a great programme of live music throughout the Festival weekend to entertain visitors.

Friday night headliners on the Nantwich Hearing Centre stage are Tumblin' Dice from whom we can expect Authentic R and B in the style of the Rolling Stones. Immediately preceding them are XL5 with their 60s soul music.

 Visitors will be spoiled for choice as over on Snugbury’s Music Stage, shortly after Baxter leaves the stage, the wonderful Tokyo Misfires will appear - everyone's favourite party band, so expect dancing and more dancing at that end of town.

 Kevin says he is thrilled to welcome Subrosa5 as Saturday’s late afternoon onwards headline act at Nantwich Hearing Centre Stage.

“Subrosa5 are a 6-piece Thames Valley band playing mod inspired power pop with a dash of 60’s psychedelia. They play some of the best known classics from the 60s - 00’s featuring songs from The Stones via The Jam and Oasis through to the Kaiser Chiefs as well as their own compositions in the same vein. They have released two records, both produced by the late Rich Haines of Radiohead & Supergrass fame, and have played live with Mark Gardener, Tim Burgess and Simon Townshend.”

If you don’t catch Scarlett Fever on Nantwich Hearing Centre Stage on Friday there is another chance early Saturday afternoon at Snugbury’s Stage; Kevin says “They are an exciting, dynamic new band from Crewe, with a repertoire that ranges from Britpop to Mod, they are sure to be popular. Next up, Unit 17 are an indie band to watch; fresh from their performance at The Cheshire Show, they are getting a lot of attention on both the local and national music scene.

Funky Rythmix are up next with their funk, chic style covering the mid afternoon to mid evening slot; they are not to be missed.”

Kevin tells us he is delighted with the new young bands he’s been able to book, and says “We are also pleased to welcome Good Habits, who will wow us with their funky soul and reggae. “

Kevin continues “Festival Saturday will see Stepping Lane, a young, talented four piece band from Staffordshire. They play dance floor fillers right through from 50s rock n' roll, plus music from all the interim decades to include 10s commercial pop. We cannot forget the wonderful local pianist, Andrea Lambelle who will feature on Saturday morning. There are so many more great musicians, so head to the Festival website to plan your listening”

Over at Love Lane area, the Children’s Marquee is again sponsored again by Whitegates, one of South Cheshire's leading Estate Agents, and the Festival organisers thank them sincerely for their Silver Sponsorship; Whitegates will have a stand within their marquee with property-related entertainment and information.

As always, this popular area will have lots of arty and crafty goings on to keep the younger visitors engaged, so expect competitions, glitter, face painting and lots of fun. The Dabber Trail will again encourage locals and visitors alike to search out signs of Mr Dabber in participating businesses.

Look out in August for more details of all the fun events planned for children.

All Festival news, how to vote for Nantwich Food Awards, sponsored by KBA Financial the Financial Planning Company, and much more can be found on the website: 

https://www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk/

• The Nantwich Food Festival is an independent food festival run by volunteers
• The 2023 Festival takes place Friday 1^st to Sunday 3^rd September
• Since 2009, the festival has been run by not-for-profit Nantwich Food and Drink Ltd.
• Around 200 businesses have stalls located across Nantwich town centre during the weekend festival.
• The festival generates an estimated £2m each year for the local economy.
• Nantwich has one of the largest collections of historic buildings in Cheshire, with Elizabethan, Georgian and Victorian architecture throughout the town centre.
• There has been a market in Nantwich since 1720
• Over 100 unpaid, dedicated volunteers keep the festival running each year