Happy Mondays and Boney M to headline Beat-Herder

A Beat-Herder embraces the letter "T" fancy dress theme of last year's festival by dressing as a Tea Lady. (s)

Seventies chart toppers Boney M will also make an appearance as will dance music pioneers The Orb at this year’s event from Friday July 18th to Sunday July 20th.

Welsh urban heroes Goldie Looking Chain are also making a one-off appearance.

The Happy Mondays featuring Shaun Ryder and Bez were at the forefront of the indie scene in Manchester. The band celebrated 25 years together last year with a series of high profile gigs.

Held in fields between Sawley and Gisburn, the festival, which is celebrating it’s ninth year this July, features an eclectic mix of DJs, live acts, guitar bands and legends.

Beat-Herder prides itself on being a completely different festival experience to any other and this year festival goers can expect 15 completely unique, craftsman built stages.

Other big names for Herders to savour include Austrian dance group Klangkarussell, electro original Greg Wilson, hotly-tipped Mancunian Bipolar Sunshine and Riva Starr.

And the fancy dress theme for this year’s Beat-Herder festival is simply the letter H.

Five years ago the festival decided to start a fancy dress theme using the letters of its name as inspiration.

Last year’s T theme saw revellers going to incredible lengths to outdo each other – some of the most memorable costumes included Transformer robots, tea ladies and Thunderbirds to name a few.

“This year we want people to really push the limits,” said organiser Nick Chambers. “H is a great letter and the possibilities are limitless. Hobgoblins, hedgehogs, hermit crabs, hussars, Hell’s angles, helicopters, Henry Winkler, The Hulk, the list goes on! Just think twice before you plump for hippy!”

For more information and tickets visit: www.beatherder.co.uk