ORGANISERS of the third Mannifest festival have promised an eclectic mix of music, circus, culture, arts and crafts when the festival returns in August.
This year the festival will take place between Friday, August 5 and Sunday, August 7 at the Glen Lough campsite in Union Mills.
Festival goers can expect a mix of entertainment and activities in what organisers are calling a "vibrant, soulful and above all friendly space".
More than 100 artists are expected to perform including Frank Turner, Gentlemen's Dub Club, Scott Matthews, Wallis Bird and The Boxettes – who are returning for the second year running.
Musical genres on offer include jazz, world music, folk, blues, acoustic soul, hip hop, ska, reggae, afro beat, funk and electronica. There will also be a number of DJs.
Peter Young from Event Management Solutions is one of the people involved in helping to run the festival which is organised by the Bedouin Group.
He said: "The full line up changes continually as more bands and musicians want to play at the festival. Each area will have its own personality with individual feel and something different but be linked together giving a true festival feel.
"Add to that the amazing installations and performance art of Arcadia, great food and hopefully good weather and we will all have a great time."
The Chai Wallahs tent, which has been a feature at many UK festivals, will be the centre piece of the festival and includes a bar, café, herbal emporium, shisha lounge, herbal shot bar and live music stage.
The Electric Soul Train tent will showcase some of the Island's local DJ talent and will play host to the live debut of Dusty Plankton – a three piece electronica band playing reggae to breakbeat.
For the first time in the festival's history there will be a fringe theatre festival tent. Little Gusto Physical Theatre, in conjunction with The Play People, will present The Place of our Earlier Days showcasing sketch comedy, physical theatre, circus, poetry, music and contemporary cabarets. The theatre will also screen films.
The Energy FM stage will host the very best of local talent and a small number of UK bands and the Festival of Youth marquee will see up and coming young bands, who take part in the government Soundcheck project, perform.
Local man Mike Bell, who is currently studying circus and performing arts in Bristol, will bring over a circus and there will be workshops where people of all ages can learn circus skills. There will also be a fire show with fire spinning free runners and fire sword battles. The 30ft wooden structure of Manannan, the festival mascot, will also return to the site this year.
Last year more than 5,000 people attended the festival which is run as a not-for-profit event. All money raised by ticket sales goes back into the festival or to a chosen charity. This year the charity is The Children's Centre which will have "a big presence on site" according to organisers.
Mannifest will take place at the Glen Lough campsite in Marown on August 5, 6 and 7. Weekend tickets (including camping) cost £69. Day tickets cost £29 per day. Children under the age of 13 go free.
For more information and to book tickets visit www.mannifestlive.com. Tickets can also be booked at HMV in Douglas.
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