Heckyfest line-up is stuffed with talent

Green Park in Heckmondwike town centre is going to be buzzing yet again to the sound of music as Crown of Lights puts on its free music festival this month.

Of the 18 acts playing over ten hours, 14 have never before played at Heckyfest, as it is affectionately known by locals.

String Villains, made up of Heckmondwike Grammar sixth form students, will open the festival. Two cover bands from Heckmondwike are also playing. Shaun Halloran from Gods of Fortune said: “After attending the excellent festival for the past two years I felt it was the right time to apply for a slot and see it as an honour to play the best local free festival!”

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Organiser Donal O’Driscoll said: “Gods of Fortune played one of our band nights and absolutely stormed it. They might be honoured to play but I’m delighted having such a great local band adding to the rich mix of acts we’ve got.”

Cover band Flaming Dragon will be closing the show. Donal said: “These guys play a wonderful mix of songs many of us haven’t heard in ages and always put on a great show.”

A large second stage will allow for non-stop live music. There will be kids’ rides, free circus activities and face painting.

Other acts are Rum Doodle, Lo-Fi 3, the Blind Dead McJones Band and the Sailmakers from Leeds, Dirty Vinyls from Liversedge, Fat Henry and Eric the Viaduct from Dewsbury, Alex Quinn and the Man in the Street from Holmfirth, Jade Helliwell from Batley, Bag of Tricks and Casanova Down from Bradford, Strung to the Sky from Pontefract, Julian Socha from Heckmondwike, the Mavis Seed from Birstall and City of Lights from Halifax. The festival starts at noon on July 20, finishing at 10pm.