ONE of the North East’s best loved food festivals is adding music to the mix with live performances from some of the region’s best upcoming artistes and entertainers.
The annual Distinctly Delicious Darlington – Festival of Food makes a welcome return to the town on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May.
And, while visitors sample and snap up a vast range of locally-produced food and drink from more than 50 stalls at High Row and West Row, singers, guitarists – and two very special tea ladies – will ensure the event goes with a swing.
Throughout the two-day festival, Trixie and Tilly will be celebrating Britain’s passion for tea and all things vintage by serving festival-goers with their fine leaf drink from a special musical trolley and dancing to their favourite gramophone records.
In another first for the festival, musicians will play live sets on both days starting at 11.45am on Saturday, with acoustic folk singer and songwriter Jordan Grant.
Jordan will be followed at 1pm by acoustic covers duo, The Other Ones and, at 4pm, by indie acoustic artist Zack Hammond.
Then, on Sunday, pop and RnB solo artist Eric Hynes will get the ball rolling at 12 noon, before soul and gospel singer songwriter Eve Conway takes to the stage at 1.15pm.
Americana folk duo James Robson and The Lovely Burn will then round the live performances off at3.15pm.
Meanwhile, event organiser Distinct Darlington will also be holding a special,
Tunaversity Challenge event, hourly, from 11am to 3pm each day, at West Row.
The aim of the game show, will be for festival-goers to pit their wits against a comedy compère and fish for whopping laughs and tiddling prizes.
A highlight of the annual festival is the Locomotion cake parade, in which train carriages of cake are wheeled through the town and, this year, the parade will be led by street band, The Red Hot Dinners, accompanied by Stockton community drumming band, Rhythm Train.
“This year we really are shifting the festival up a gear,” said Distinct Darlington manager Alex Hirst.
“Not only will we have a record number of food stalls, selling the widest variety of produce yet, but we’ll be providing entertainment for all ages and tastes.
“When it comes to food and fun Darlington has a lot to shout about – and we hope as many people as possible will come along and join us.”