Wirral's first Astral Coast music festival this weekend (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral's first Astral Coast music festival this weekend

2:30pm Friday 20th July 2012 in News By Craig Manning

HUNDREDS of music fans are expected in New Brighton tomorrow afternoon for a new festival celebrating the best in emerging new talent.

The inaugural Astral Coast Festival takes place at the Floral Pavilion. It is the creation of Liverpool-based music magazine Bido Lito!, Wallasey-based mental health support hub The Open Door Centre and the Floral Pavilion.

Wirral acts taking to the stage will be Sound Of Guns, Oxygen Thieves and Guardians.

The winners of Merseyrail Unsigned 2012 Beach Skulls also feature, as do The Thespians, fresh from headlining this year's X&Y Festival in Liverpool.

Also performing are Wallasey bands The Heist, Fools On Parade and The Chevrons.

Ellesmere Port group Tiro Lark join the festival bill following a successful showing at this year's Liverpool Sound City Youth Live as have the wonderful alt-rock three piece The Vigilantes.

The wealth of Wirral bands taking part continues with Notion from supporting The Lightning Seeds. Notion appear along with Zinc and Advenus.

Also appearing are Ska-indie renegades Dead Dukes, 17-year-old grime, dubstep and hip-hop MC Rosh.

Genre straddling synth pop acts Tourist Information and Joe Tarpey complete the line-up.

Looking forward to the Bido Lito! Editor - and New Brighton resident Craig G Pennington said: "Astral Coast is set to be the highlight of the Wirral's summer.

"We're thrilled to be involved with the festival and are looking forward to helping discover the area's next great musical visionaries.

"The Wirral has a long history of producing era-defining new music, and that music only ever comes from our youth.

"The festival will champion and support our emerging bands, while providing an amazing party for everyone in the process."

Kate Carpenter, the Floral Pavilion's commercial director, said: "We are excited to host this vibrant and colourful new festival.

"We have the perfect building in a great beach location and we want as many people through the doors. The Floral isn’t visited by enough young people.

"This we want to change and believe Astral Coast could prove a catalyst.

"We also believe that it is important to support up and coming artists and provide them with a professional performance platform engendering respect for their music and the opportunity to share this with a wider audience.

"We will be working closely with The Open Door Centre and Bido Lito! to ensure this event becomes an annual highlight!"

As well as the freshest music across two stages, Astral Coast will announce a full festival programme of DJs, fairground rides and stalls, a vintage clothes market, pop-up attractions, chill out zones and special giveaways!

The Astral Coast Festival runs from 1-11pm. Full details are from astralcoast.co.uk