Making Blackpool Rock

As The 1975, Wretch 32, Ms Dynamite and more head up Blackpool Rocks tomorrow, local musicians are also on the bill as the UK’s newest indoor music festival takes over the resort’s Winter Gardens
Mobius LoopMobius Loop
Mobius Loop

Blackpool Rocks is the UK newest indoor music festival and it takes over the famous Winter Gardens this Saturday.

And among the artists filling the bill for this eight-room extravaganza are some home grown stars who you may be hearing more of in the future.

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First and foremost, former Newman College student Rae Morris joins stars like The 1975 in the Live Room.

Singer songwriter Rae is only just out of her teens, yet she is already signed to Atlantic Records and her debut EP was produced by Noah and the Whale star Charlie Fink.

She has toured with Noah and the Whale and with Bombay Bicycle Club, with whom she fulfilled a big dream, playing on the Empress Ballroom stage for the first time. This Saturday, she returns.

Among lots of local acts on the Galleon Stage, in the Winter Gardens bar, are Morecambe band Idol Minds, formed as students at UCLan.

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Their infectious pop has won them support slots with McFly, JUiCE, ex-Smiths star Andy Rourke, Preston pop hopefuls Team Waterpolo and The Troubadours.

Also on the Galleon Stage are the irresistible grooves of Preston-based six-piece 
Mobius Loop. As students on UCLan’s Music Practice course, they recently performed as part of the department’s Winter Sound Festival of experimental music and also went down a storm at Kendal Calling and Beat-Herder Festivals this summer.

Another of the Galleon Stage’s acts are the female-fronted pop-punk quartet Next Stop Atlanta.

Formed in Preston in 2010, they have toured relentlessly and released their debut EP last year, produced by Matt O’Grady, best known for his work with You Me At Six and The Blackout. Their first album is due out in the New Year.

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Blackpool Rocks is organised by Lancashire promoters Cuffe and Taylor, the team behind Lytham Proms and Blackpool Tower Headland Festival. They aim to stage an all-nighter festival with mix of dance, electro, urban and indie music throughout all the theatres and concert halls of Blackpool Winter Gardens.

Headliners include The 1975, Disclosure and Pete Tong who will be playing to 8,000 rowdy revellers from 9pm through until 5am.

Tickets, which give general admission to all rooms, are £26.50 or £55 for VIP entry, from www.blackpoolrocks.com.