Local lads are big players at festival

The Gramotones - Sid Cooper, Jake Fletcher, James Cardus and Ryan Comac.

LOCAL bands will be sharing the stage with some of music’s biggest groups at a North-West festival this weekend.

The Gramotones — Oldham and Bury musicians Jake Fletcher, Sid Cooper, James Cardus and Ryan Comac — got together two years ago, but will play at Kendal Calling three times over the weekend alongside alongside big names such as Primal Scream, the Charlatans, Johnny Marr, Basement Jaxx and I am Kloot

Kendal Calling is one of three festivals The Gramotones will be part of in 2013, having already played the Isle of Wight. They are also lined up to perform at Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion, North Wales, in September.

Joining them at the festival will be Oldham indie-electro band the Whip, founded in 2006 by Oldhamers Bruce Carter and Danny Saville. Saddleworth’s 13-piece Latin, salsa and boogaloo band Giddy Gringos will give the festival some fiesta spirit.

Award-winning photographers Tim Simpson Photography, from Uppermill, will also be at the event, at Lowther Castle near Penrith, asking festival goers to collaborate with them in producing impressive light paintings.