NEWS: Mish Mash Festival @ Market Square, Darlington

Image: KOG

With last year’s in-the-flesh Mish Mash snatched from us, it’s only right that this summer we get to enjoy a double supply of the something-for-everyone festival: not one, but two days of musical celebration, all thanks to Tracks Darlington, Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Festival Recovery Fund.

The party bursts into Darlington Market Square on Saturday 28^th August for an opening day of air-punching local pride, with ethereal indie pop from ETHR; chart-topping reggae/ska heaven from The Skapones; the sublime Cortney Dixon – rightly named one of BBC Music Introducing in the North East’s Top Ten Tips, with a one-of-a-kind voice and a smoky-bar style; funk and summer in a bottle from Middlesbrough’s Moon Wax; joyous Latin acoustic from last year’s Mini Mish Mash headliners Los Capitanes; and soul-pleasing funk and dance from headliners Weekend Sun. Sunday 29^th sees more music from folk punkers Bubamara, foot-stomping blues from The Dead Seat and classic funk and soul sounds courtesy of Groove Nite, plus all families’ prayers will be answered thanks to non-stop good times from rock ‘n’ roll folk pirates Blackbeard’s Tea Party, clever daftness from Biscuit Head & The Biscuit Badgers, party-starting African/hip-hop fusion from headliners K.O.G. & The Zongo Brigade and more, not to mention family musical crafts presented by BIG Little Gigs and free music and dance workshops. Missed Mash? Us too.

Mish Mash Festival takes place on Saturday 28^th and Sunday 29^th August at Darlington’s Market Square