The stage is almost set for one of the biggest music events ever seen in Runcorn.
After months of planning, the curtain will go up this month on the inaugural Runcorn Linnets Family Festival.
The two-day extravaganza is the brainchild of local businessman and entertainment promoter Tony Murrell.
Taking place at Runcorn Linnets Football Club on Saturday, May 18th and Sunday, May 19th, it will encompass a wide variety of musical genres from the birth of Northern Soul in the 1960s-1970s and the iconic sounds of the 1980s through to the present day.
Day one showcases leading DJs and performers, who are making names for themselves on the North West scene (and beyond).
Day two features established bands, paying tribute to legendary groups such as Deacon Blue, UB40 and The Beautiful South.
The show runs from 12.30pm to 10.30pm on the Saturday while Sunday's bill is from 12.30pm to 8.30pm.
Under the terms of its licence, this is a ticket-only event. There will be no cash admission at the turnstile.
Tickets will be on daily sale Monday to Friday (10am-2pm) from Linnets' ground in Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, from 10am-2pm.Â
They are also available at Mersey Tyres and Autocente in Brindley Road, Astmoor and online at www.murrellstoursandevents.com
Prices are as follows:
Day ticket (Saturday or Sunday)
- £20 adult
- £10 juniors
Full weekend
- £35 adult
- £15 juniors
Family tickets for the weekendÂ
- (2 adults and 2 children) - £90Â
APEC Taxis Stadium, with its modern facilities and picturesque woodland setting, is a perfect venue for the event.
There is a well-appointed clubhouse and some cover at pitch side, including a seated stand.
Festival goers will benefit from fully- licensed bars, onsite catering and toilets with games, stalls and kids rides also lined up. There is ample free parking at the ground.
APEC Taxis Stadium is convenient for major motorway links and best accessed from Junction 11 of the M56 (via Preston Brook).
It is a five-minute walk from the Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (Brookvale School) stop on the busway circular services (1 & 2) from Runcorn Shopping City. This stop is also on the routes of the 110 (from Warrington and Widnes) plus the 79c and 82a (from Liverpool). All are Arriva services.
Passengers on the X30 bus, also an Arriva service, from Chester should alight at Halton Lea North to connect with the above services, which are also accessible from the Runcorn High Street (Town Centre) stops.
These High Street stops are a 10-minute walk from Runcorn Railway Station (London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street line).
Runcorn East Railway Station (on the Manchester to Chester and North Wales line) is a couple of bus stops from Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy for APEC Taxis Stadium. (Use the stop directly outside the railway station, without crossing the busway).