Thousands of Mod and Ska fans set to descend on historic estate

Up to 5,000 fans of the music genres are expected to descend on Thorp Perrow Arboretum, near Bedale, from August 28, to hear 30 acts ranging from Bad Manners and The Selecter to Craig Charles and The Lambrettas.

Other confirmed acts for the Great Northern Mod and Ska Festival include Secret Affair, The Chords, King Hammond and Skaville UK and Nine Below Zero.

The family-oriented festival, which is being run by the team behind Richmond Live, will also feature a scooter cavalcade around part of last year's Tour de France route, a fairground, a range of children's activities and a show and shine scooter contest.

Organiser Mike Jinks said the British festival scene was stronger than ever, with numerous events catering for specific tastes, with the exception of 1960s British youth subculture Mod music and Ska, a precursor to rocksteady and reggae that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s.

He said he was confident of there being a strong demand for the festival.

Mr Jinks said: "There is a bit of a renaissance with Mod and Ska at the moment, the bands are all busier than ever, and there is even a Mod radio station that has started in the North-East.

"The scooter ride will be a key part of the festival and will be quite a spectacle with 300 scooters piling down the road.

"We are aiming to be the biggest festival in North Yorkshire and the North-East and are in it for the long haul, as we know these things take time to build."

Mr Jinks said the North Yorkshire-based group decided to hold the festival at the historic estate due to its proximity to the A1 and as it would enable the festival to expand, while also boosting the local economy.

Acts will perform on two stages, one of which is hoped will have a chequered dance floor for fans of Northern Soul, which is linked to Ska.

On-site camping is included in the weekend tickets, which cost from £69.

For details, visit greatnorthernfestivals.com/modska