A MIXTURE of internationally-renowned acts and up-and-coming musicians will take to the stage for the first-ever Ramsbottom Festival.

Headlining at the town's cricket club will be The Animals and Friends with Steve Cropper (Friday), Guillemots (Saturday) and The Waterboys (Sunday).

There will also be a second stage featuring a number of local bands, plus a beer tent and local food stalls.

In addition to the music, family activities will include interactive fun with workshops, films and outdoor theatre to entertain as well as a funfair.

Families can also get involved in fun crafting workshops and make their very own festival souvenirs to take home.

Media workshops, where kids can try their hands at making films, will be happening throughout the weekend.

Festival organiser David Agnew, who is also director of Bury Met, said: “With just hours to go the countdown has begun and we’re looking forward to opening the gates to the first-ever Ramsbottom Festival.

“We've sold well over half of the tickets so far so we're expecting a really great turn-out this weekend.”

Tickets are still left, priced £15 for Friday and £35 for Saturday and Sunday or £70 for the weekend.

Camping is available at the Fisherman’s Retreat at £15 per night with regular shuttle buses to and from the festival grounds.

Friday

Main stage

18.45-19.15 Molly Bloom
19.30-19.50 Randolph Matthews
20.00-20.35 Mark Radcliffe and the Big Figures
20.50-The Animals & Friends with Steve Cropper.

Saturday

Main stage

12.30-12.55 Stephen Hudson
13.00-13.25 Ruby Ann Patterson
14.00-14.30 The Rainband
14.45-15.15 Janice Graham Band
15.35-16.10 Kid British
16.25-17.05 The Travelling Band
17.25-18.15 Cherry Ghost
18.45-19.45 Young Knives
20.00-20.45 Badly Drawn Boy
21.15 Guillemots.

T’Other Stage

13.30-14.20 Stuart Warburton and The Grand Scheme
14.15-14.45 Lizzie Nunnery
15.00-15.45 Sarabath Tucek
16.10-16.50 Harp and a Monkey
17.05-17.45 Alex Highton
18.00-18.45 Denis Jones
19.00-19.45 SOAS Band.

Big Top

13.00-15.00 Kids DJ Workshop hosted by Bop Local
15.00-16.15 Clint Boon (XFM) v David Dunne (Funkademia)
16.15-17.30 Graeme Hawley (Funkademia) v Gareth Brooks (XFM)
17.30-18.45 Nige Clucas (Capital FM) v Kid British DJ Set
18.45-20.00 Dance Lady Dance (Funkademia) v Mark Hogg (Slammin Boys)
20.00-21.15 Zac Sargant (Rhythmix.co.uk) v Kid Blast (Funkademia).

Sunday

Main stage

12.30-13.00 Taylor and the Mason
13.20-13.50 Hannah James and Sam Sweeney
14.10-14.45 Kirsty Almeida and The Troubadours
15.00-15.40 The Once
16.00-16.45 Otis Gibbs
17.00-17.50 Mike McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle
18.00-18.40 ahab
19.10-20.10 Capercaillie
21.00 The Waterboys.

T’Other Stage

13.00-15.00 Disco Mums
16.00-16.45 Gypsy Creams
17.30-18.30 Jay Tamkin Band
19.00-19.45 Biederbeck
20.15-21.00 Black Lights.

Big Top

13.00-21.00 B Bop Local (Phil Beckett & Mike Joyce) v Ramsbottom DJ Allstars (DJ Mart, DJ Dazzler, Baz Kirkley, Gaz Webber, Frazer Graham).

* Ramsbottom Festival takes place from September 16 to 18 at the cricket club. For information, visit ramsbottomfestival.com or ring 0161 761 2216.