FESTIVAL fever hits Longridge for the first time next month with an eclectic line-up of nine bands covering all music genres from rock and funk to pop, indie and metal.

Scarfest — which stands for Saint Cecilia’s Are Rocking — will raise money for St Cecilia’s School, Longridge, which needs £30,000 to tarmac the playground.

If the event is a success future Scarfests will donate to local charities.

In fact, two of the opening bands, One Minute and The Rain, are made up of ex-St Cecilia’s pupils, aged 15 and 17.

But headlining the event — which aims to attract a 2,500-strong crowd — is Grand Old Juke, a self-professed ‘eccentric’ Manchester-based six-piece band who fuse jazz, rock, electro and funk to create a music style reminiscent of The Killers.

Female-fronted metal band Incarna, from North London will bring a heady mix of acoustic guitar and the lyrical voice of Emily Jane, the lead singer.

Word about Scarfest has even reached France. Lilith to Kill are a four-piece band from Marseille with a female lead vocalist who has avoice well suited to the band’s gothic style of music.

By singing in English, Lilith to Kill have quickly established a wide fan base across Europe and have recently signed a management contract with the German company Concertz.

Scarfest technical director Mark Shepherd said: “We are thrilled that LTK are joining our line-up.

Their latest recording is a six-track EP Until The End and we are excited that Scarfest will be the first live performance of this material in the UK before they head back to France to record a full album.”

Our Fold, a four-piece indie rock band from Bolton previously featured on the introducing stage of Leeds and Reading Festivals, and appeared at Glastonbury.

Other confirmed acts include The Articles, hard rock band Black Mamba, Preston-based indie combo The Escobars and home-grown Longridge talents Retro State.

Festival director Liz Hindley said: “We have been working hard since January to deliver Scarfest to the community of Longridge.

“We are excited about the quality of the acts that we have managed to secure and are very grateful to the Goosnargh and Longridge Agricultural Show for their continued support.”

  • Scarfest takes place on the Goosnargh and Longridge Agricultural Show field off Lower Lane. It starts at 12 noon on Saturday, September 21, with the final act scheduled to finish at 10.30pm. For more info and ticket details, visit www.scarfest. co.uk