Sir Gerald Kaufman to Launch Levenshulme Festival

The Right Honourable Sir Gerald Kaufman MP will launch Europe’s biggest community festival on Friday 21 October in Levenshulme.

“I am delighted to welcome the 13th of the Levenshulme Festival" said Sir Gerald when asked about his support for the festival. "This is a huge event which attracts many thousands of people, who are thrilled to participate in the unique identity of Levenshulme and celebrate it's rich and varied community, culturally gastronomically and in very many ways. I am looking forward tremendously to being present.”

The two week festival runs until Sunday 6 November. With just over 45 venues staging over 120 events over 17 days featuring a whole host of Art, Community, Dance, Music, Sport and Literature, the programme promises something to suit everyone.

The community festival features events in the Levenshulme, Gorton South and Burnage Wards. and most of the events are free or heavily subsidised by local venues and sponsors. The recession busting celebration looks likely to beat last years attendance figures of just over 10,000.

This year the event is once again supported by local traders and Manchester City Council and takes place in and around the Levenshulme village hub along the A6, Stockport Road, in the heart of Manchester’s Creative Corridor. Five hundred performers are expected to take part in its Music & Arts programme.

Highlights include a special Free outdoor party, Fun Fair and Fireworks display for 5,000 on Tuesday 1 November at Cringle Fields Park, which starts at 4.30pm.

Musical highlights include a special gig by Manchester Music Icon – Vinny Peculiar on Saturday 22 October. The concert is part of Vinny’s UK tour to promote his new album which was recorded with ‘Bonehead’ from the world famous ‘Oasis’ Burnage super-group. Other musical events include the staging of the UK’s only Bob Dylan Festival weekend, a special concert by local Levenshulme singer songwriter, Claire Mooney, a traditional Irish Music Festival, a Klezmer music concert and an abundance of other live music events.

This year hosts its own Literature Festival which features a host of new Theatre productions, a special Poetry night featuring an internationally famous Beatbox Poet and an abundance of famous authors showcasing their new novels

Bankley Art studio will stage a special young people’s workshop during called ‘Arty-lmypics’ as well as an international Art show at Bankley.

Love Levenshulme will again be hosting a special photographic competition and staging Art Pop-up shops at secret locations and dates.

Community events are right at the heart of the festival and this year sees the first birthday of the areas much loved ‘Levenshulme Inspire Project’, a community project which is transforming the area through community activity, creativity, enterprise and fun. A whole host of special events are taking place at the venue.

More information is available by contacting the festival office on 257 2484 or by tuning into ALLFM 96.9

A free colour brochure is available from one of the 45 participating venues in the village.