Oldham venue announces blues festival as treat for borough

Whittles at Tokyo Project on Roscoe Street is a lively music venue, often hosting live entertainment and festivals that residents in the borough and beyond flock to.

Now, bosses at the venue have revealed it plans on staging its first blues festival on Sunday, September 1, with a jam-packed line-up of seven blues bands taking to its outdoor stage throughout the day.

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The venue has a large outdoor stage and food van (Image: Whittles @ Tokyo)

Kicking off the event from 1pm until 2pm is Climate Stripes, a three-piece original rock/blue maturing band from the north west.

The Climate Stripes are producing songs of "edgy melodic substance" in droves, with added sophisticated harmonies and "smooth blues licks".

Next up is The Whiskey Flowers from 2.15pm until 3.15pm who hail from Kettering, featuring Aiden Pryor, Steph Ashcroft, Elliot Clark and Ben Hart who promise to bring a blend of blues, rock, folk and pop.

At 3.30pm until 4.30pm, Dust Radio, which has been nominated for UK blues album of the year in the UK Blues Awards 2024m, will be taking to the stage featuring Paddy Wells on vocals and harmonica, Tom Jackson on guitar and vocals, Stu Baggaley on bass and Rob Kenny on drums.

Whittles is looking forward to its first blues festival which will take place all day (Image: Whittles @ Tokyo)

The five-piece Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience, fronted by Pat Fulgoni, will then make an appearance from 4.45pm until 5.45pm.

The band already have several European blues festival dates under their belts - and Pat has gained notoriety for his wide range of singing styles, which includes dance and collaborations with festival headlining acts such as Camo and Krooked, Coldcut, Zion Train, Technimatic, London Elektricity and Murdock.

Whittles say Pat Fulgoni is not one to be missed as it is "truly magical when he sings the blues, especially when backed by the stunning musicianship of this band".

Coming from the mighty Ouse Delta in York, DC Blues have been playing their own take on 'the blues' with original material and selected covers since 2012, and are set to grace the Whittles audience from 6pm until 7.15pm.

DC Blues have also a self-released EP, which has accumulated multiple plays on a number of independent and internet radio stations around the world including Vale Coast & County Radio, Rock Radio UK, Blues & Roots Radio and many more as well as live radio sessions.

The venue bosses tease Oldham is in for a treat with this event (Image: Whittles @ Tokyo)

Then John Angus Band, who write, record and perform original rock blues songs with three albums since 2019 and many festival gigs under their belt, are taking to the stage from 7.30pm until 9pm.

Bosses of the venue added: "We are delighted to have them perform at Whittles."

Finally, headlining the vent is the mighty Blackballed from 9.15pm until close.

Blackballed's sound has been built by experienced musicians, Marshall Gill, his brother Leon and Tom Wibberley, who have appeared in their own right at the Pyramid Stage, Maida Vale, Sonisphere and have toured Europe, Australia, Brazil and America. 

Whittles said the band is not one to be missed as their reputation grows and they "continue to smash down the walls at every show, leaving a line of converted fans in their wake".

Doors for the event open at 12.30pm and tickets can be purchased in advance via Eventbrite for £20.

Food is also available from the band wagon in the venue all day.

Lisa Standley, who runs the show at Whittles, said the event "will be a really good day for the people of Oldham".

Tickets can be purchased by searching eventbrite.co.uk for 'Blues Day Festival'.

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk