Ear To The Ground (of D:percussion fame) and Don’t Panic (of flyer packing fame) have organised a free festival, the New Islington Festival. It’s happening in Manchester this Saturday, September 2, between 12pm and 9pm:

The New Islington Festival is a celebration of the creation of Manchester’s newest and hippest place.

The Festival is for everyone and features a fusion of up and coming folk acts, famous Manchester headliners, Manchester’s finest DJs, cutting edge art installations by the City’s best urban artists and the best street entertainers in Europe.

Talent from across the city will be showcased throughout the day. There’ll be plenty for families and kids with free art workshops, an art competition focussing on urban youth art styles and the Spurting Man will host a surreal and entertaining family show. For younger visitors the Herbie the Treehead Dinosaur Show will bring the Jurassic age to life.

The main stage, which is on one of the Water Park’s islands hosts live music all afternoon concluding in an explosive firework finale.

Besides various arts projects (details here), there’s also a busy musical line-up, including:

Cortina Deluxx, Dunk Le Chunk, Kamal Arafa, Jane Weaver, Eugene McGuinness, Tsana, KT Forrester, Daniel, Karima, Eliza Wren Payne, The Witch and The Robot, John Smith, Love the Action, The Veras, Jinzena, Mekkits, Mr Scruff

I recommend Cortina Deluxx in particular, and the prospect of a Mr Scruff ‘folk set’ is intriguing. Click here for the bands’ Myspaces and the DJ line-up, if that’s your thing.

And finally, here’s where it’s all happening:

It’s in MANCHESTER just east of the city centre…

Festival entrance on Old Mill Street.

View a detailed map from www.streetmap.co.uk

Maybe see you there.