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
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information please contact Becky George at Wonderberry.
Tel: 020 7404 9594 Email: b.george@wonderberry.co.uk
Bingley Music Live is organised by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. www.bingleymusiclive.com
BML feedback:
Sie Medway Smith, Hard Fi tour manager: “It was really nice meeting you at Bingley on Sunday; we all had a really good time. You guys got the vibe perfectly right and we were all smiling still on arrival back at base, so thank you for the brilliant job you were doing.“
Andy Hawkins, The Pigeon Detectives tour manager: “Just a short note to reiterate to you how impressed I and the band were with everything at Bingley Music Live Festival this weekend. Everything was absolutely excellent from the minute we walked in through the door. Thank you very much for looking after us so well, we look forward to working with you again in the future.”
