Two time BRIT Award winner Gabrielle will headline Rochdale Feel Good Festival when it returns on Saturday 8 August 2026, joined by Ash, Starsailor and a line up of established and emerging acts.
The event will once again take place in Rochdale Town Hall Square and gardens with live music, food and drink and performances across venues in the town centre.
Gabrielle will top the main stage bill after a career spanning more than three decades. Her 1999 album Rise reached number one and achieved four times platinum status, while her greatest hits collection Dreams Can Come True matched that success. She has released six top ten albums and enjoyed 16 UK top 40 singles including Dreams, Rise, Out Of Reach, Sunshine, Give Me a Little More Time and When A Woman.
She has also introduced her music to a new audience through appearances on The Masked Singer and recently performed alongside Adele during two sold out British Summer Time Hyde Park concerts.
Joining Gabrielle on the main stage are Northern Irish rock band Ash, whose best known songs include Girl From Mars, Shining Light, Goldfinger, Oh Yeah and Kung Fu.
Also appearing are Starsailor, who recently completed a European anniversary tour celebrating 25 years together. The band remain in their original line up and are known for albums including Love Is Here and Silence Is Easy as well as singles such as Four To The Floor, Good Souls, Alcoholic and Fever. Their 2024 album Where The Wild Things Grow reached number two on the Official Independent Albums Chart.
The festival line up also features soul and funk group The Allergies and Manchester singer songwriter Alex Spencer, who first built his following through busking before receiving support from BBC Radio 1 and Radio X. His single Nightmares featured on the EA SPORTS FC25 soundtrack and he has supported Louis Tomlinson on tour this year.
Local talent will also take to the main stage with Rochdale bands K ESTATE and Metro performing what will be the biggest shows of their careers. Previous festival performers Lottery Winners appeared at the event more than a decade ago before going on to achieve chart success.
Away from the outdoor stage, visitors can enjoy live performances across seven indoor venues alongside a food and drink village.
Early bird, phase two and phase three tickets have sold out. Discounted tickets priced at £35 plus a 7.5 per cent booking fee remain available through rochdale.gov.uk/FeelGoodFestival or by calling QuayTickets on 0161 876 2015. VIP upgrade packages are also available.
The festival is organised every two years by Rochdale Development Agency on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council and is supported by the council together with sponsors including Premier Kia, The Royal Toby Hotel, Hopwood Hall College and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co operation, said, “Gabrielle is one of the UK’s most influential singer songwriters, so to have her performing in Rochdale will be very special, together with two hugely popular indie rock bands and a host of other amazing acts. With the main stage in the restored Rochdale Town Hall Square and gardens, set against the backdrop of the town hall it’s a stunning location too.”
Festival organisers say every ticket will include a reusable drinks cup to help reduce single use plastic.
The music weekend begins on Friday 7 August when Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark headline a concert in Rochdale Town Hall Square with Peter Hook and The Light and A Certain Ratio also on the bill.
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