Well, the Boat Band are there for one. Unveiling, incidentally, the start of our bizarre but possibly rather fruitful collaboration with MC Meistro, Piper and Ideal(who collectively form Rhythm'n'Grime) plus four other young Manc rappers. A theme(or possibly the theme) of the festival is "urban folk", and Rhythm'n'Grime and the Boat Band are the twin representatives of those two words. We have recorded four tracks together, some of which will be played(and possibly be performed live).
If rapping and hip-hop are not entirely to your taste, I can assure you that the Boat Band will also cater for the tastes of the old fogies among you by sitting on convenient bollards and playing a few jigs and hornpipes and twosteps.
   It is also well worth having a nose round just what Urban Splash are up to in their regenerations plans for the area(New Islington, formerly Cardroom, part of Ancoats), which are well underway.Building two new canal arms is no small potatoes for starters, never mind the buildings. The festival site is right by the new canals.