Thousands expected to be on Cloud 9 for one of South Cheshire’s biggest music events

Aug 3 2011 by simon halewood, Crewe Chronicle

About 5,000 music lovers are expected to descend on Sandbach this weekend for one of South Cheshire’s biggest annual music events.

The all-ages Cloud 9 Festival will be held at Love Lane Farm in Betchton on Saturday for a day packed with an eclectic mix of music.

Among the acts topping the bill are indie rock chart-toppers The Futureheads, The Sunshine Underground and singer Ed Sheeran, who has stormed the UK chart with debut single The A Team.

The festival continues to attract bigger crowds every year but organisers have vowed not to increase capacity for next year’s event, even if the demand is there.

Assistant festival director Gina Morris believes there are plenty of music lovers who want to attend a festival without having to slum it for days on end.

“It is a local festival that mainly attracts people from the North West and we want to keep it relatively small,” she said.

“I went to Glastonbury recently but it was a bit overwhelming. Some people don’t want that, especially the families that we are also welcoming.

“We would like to add another day to the festival next year but won’t be increasing capacity. We don’t want it to get out of hand.”

Ticket sales have been brisk, especially in the past fortnight, adds Gina.

But while she expects a sizeable walk-up crowd she is urging everyone to get their tickets beforehand, not least because it would save them £10 per ticket.

“Last year we had a 2,000 capacity and this year it is 5,000, so it has grown quite a lot. About 70% of our camping space has been taken and we’re confident the festival will be close to a sell-out.

“It will be an amazing atmosphere and different to that of previous years.”

Cloud 9’s festival partners are charities are Calm (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and Headculture, which both address depression and suicide in young men.

Artists on the CALM stage include Funkademia, Gareth Brooks, Bez, Glass Ankle and Dead Sea Souls, while Luke Gray and the Robin Pierce Band perform in the Headculture tent.

Camping is available for the Saturday night and costs £5. The camp site opens at 8am Saturday.

The festival site opens at 11am before the music starts at noon. For party animals there will be a silent disco in the dance tent until 3am.

The event is expected to be close to a sell-out but some tickets are still remaining.

For tickets, priced £30 for adults, £18.50 for ages 11-18 and free for children aged those 10 and under, or for more information, visit www.cloud9festival.co.uk.