For the first time since lockdown a music festival in memory of a teenager is coming home - and The Ligtning Seeds will top the bill. The G-Festival has raised more than £350,000 over the last decade for charities abroad and in Salford.
Steve Murray was inspired to first stage the event after his daughter, Georgia, from Worsley, died in November 2010, aged 19, after a heart operation. It has been held every year since except for a break due to the pandemic.
It is run by Georgia’s Children of the World charity, and previous concerts have included a guest appearance by Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder.
The Lightning Seeds, who had a huge hit when they teamed up with comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel for the iconic "Three Lions (Football's Coming Home)" song in May 1996 are set to headline a line-up of live music and family entertainment at G-Festival on Saturday June 17th.
The event has grown hugely since it was established 12 years ago. Next weekend marks the the return of the festival to Georgia’s hometown, at a new venue with Ian Broudie and the band performing songs from a new album and their classics.
Steve, who founded G-Festival to celebrate the life of Georgia, said: “This is the first major G-Festival we’ve held since before the pandemic and our supporters have worked incredibly hard to make this happen. It feels great to bring the event back home and have the Lightning Seeds involved in our biggest event yet."
The former lead singer of Manchester 1970s band, The Fast Cars, he added:“Having such an iconic headline act, who brought us some of the brilliant indie hits of the 90s and of course the Three Lions Coming Home anthem, is amazing. This is a special year and we’ve got a huge line-up of new talent, well-known acts and entertainment planned.”
G-Festival 2023 will have two stages, with acts including up and coming teenage band - Censored, Salford’s Indie rock quartet - Ellwood, and young performers from AK Theatre Arts Group in Walkden.
About 3,000 people are expected to attend the event at its new home at AFC Monton in Worsley from 12 noon to 9pm. Several local venues are also hosting after parties for those who want to continue partying into the night.
The fun will continue through the weekend, with G-Festival bringing football home too, when the 'Jet2 TV Allstars Charity Football Team' kick off on Sunday June 18th at AFC Monton. A team of famous faces, captained by Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall (Tyrone) will be taking to the pitch on Father’s Day to help raise further funds.
G-Festival has raised money to help change the lives of children in Manchester and around the world. It has provided free school uniforms, breakfast clubs and financial assistance to local families struggling with sick children. The charity has also developed schools, fresh water wells, healthcare and feeding programs in Cambodia and Romania.
Steve added: “The level of support we’ve been able to give to important projects has been impacted by reduced fundraising activity in recent years. So the return of our major G-Festival will help reinstate all of our food, healthcare and education programs.
“G-Festival started out as a day for Georgia’s friends to get together and remember the good times, while raising funds for kids less fortunate than themselves. It’s now become a day for us all to celebrate life and remember the people we have loved and lost along the way."
In 2016 Steve made a film to promote a song, “Carry Me Home”, which he wrote in memory of Georgia. It was performed by Salford singer Jennifer Rice, and released that year. The video shows Steve travelling through Salford and Manchester, and abroad, interspersed with home movie clips of Georgia as a baby, young girl, and teenager.
Remaining tickets are available for next weekend's event here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/georgiaschildrenoftheworld/802769# Those attending G-Festival will also be able to use their wristbands to attend the family fun football day.
Projects and organisations the charity has supported include:
- School Uniform Project - providing sustainable jobs to village families in Cambodia and supplying 400 free school uniforms for underprivileged children in Salford and Manchester.
- Salford Breakfast Clubs - funding breakfast clubs in partnership with the Lifecentre in Salford.
- Georgia’s Houses - a series of ‘Georgia’s House’ initiatives - providing facilities and resources for children and families.
- Georgia’s School Cambodia – Georgia's first school was built in a remote village in northern Cambodia for over 100 children, in partnership with Cambodia’s Build Your Future Today organisation.
- Georgia’s Water Wells - building three wells with Choice Cambodia to provide vital access to fresh water for villages previously without drinking water.
- Winter Food Parcel Project – sending winter food parcels to children in Romania.
- Education program in Cambodia - providing teenagers around Georgia’s age, with the opportunity to obtain a university education,
- Support for local children in Salford - including support for children who have lost a parent.
