NORTHWICH’S first music festival has been given the green light to go ahead for a second year.

Whatfest, which proved a huge success last July at Shipbrook Hill Farm on Manor Lane, will be lighting up the skies above Whatcroft again, with a huge act rumoured to be taking to the Mid Cheshire stage.

Organiser Simon Bennett is hoping this summer’s event will see more than 3,000 people descend on the site that will again cater for those wishing to camp.

Plans for Whatfest 09 are in their infancy, but Simon says improvements will be made on last year’s inaugural festival, which was headlined by Northwich band The Shallow Call.

“In terms of ticket sales, security and organisation we are miles ahead of where we were last year,” he said.

“We need to take little steps but it’s all go for 2009 and we’ve got some really exciting bands being lined up to play.”

Plans include two stages and licensed bars on the land where Simon runs his Riverside Organic farm business.

Details of line-ups, ticket prices and dates will be confirmed later in the year.