Heckyfest to make triumphant return

Crown of Lights Festival, Heckmondwike, better known as Heckyfest, will kick off at 11am on Saturday July 19.

Organiser Donal O’Driscoll said the free event would present some of the top talent from the town.

He said: “The quality of the acts we attract to our monthly events never ceases to amaze me and this year the acts are all locally based,” he said. “Fifteen of the acts have never played the festival before.”

The festival typically closes on a covers band performance, with this year’s choice being home grown talent Gods of Fortune.

Donal said: “It was a no-brainer. These guys absolutely rocked the crowd when they played the teatime slot last year. I’m delighted they’re available to finish what will be yet another incredible day of live music and family fun.”

The rest of the line up include Alex Quinn and the Man in the Street, Boom Room Blues, Eternal Teenage Syndrome, Folkus, Foon, Graham Browning Trio, Keystone Acoustic, Liberate, Linzi Greaves, Negative Panda, OCD, Peculiar Blue, Simon Walker, Steph Stephenson and Matt Bentley, The River and I, and The Young Nothings.

The bands were selected from 18 band and acoustic gig nights that Crown of Lights has put on over the past year at the Comrade’s Club, in Regent Street.

Performances will take place across two stages in Green Park to provide nonstop music over 10 hours.

It will also include a performance by music students from Mirfield Free Grammar.

Entry to the festival is free, but organisers have suggested that punters get to the park early to ensure a place in the crowd.