0
The New York City boys Fun Lovin’ Criminals will headline a free gig in St Helens town centre on Saturday.
Fresh from playing the V Festival at the weekend, Huey, Fast and Frank will join a star-studded line-up in Church Square.
Best known for their 1996 smash hit ‘Scooby Snacks’, the trio have recently released the exclusive 3CD Fun, Live and Criminal album to fans who pledged online.
Fans paid for the album online and received limited edition signed albums, three plectrums and a backstage pass once the FLC target had been reached.
Since ‘Loco’ was released in 2001 to critical acclaim, the band has been embroiled in constant battles with management companies trying to get their music released.
After a five-year legal battle with their first manager, whom they fired in 2003, Fun Lovin’ Criminals returned last year with their seventh studio album, the independently released ‘Classic Fantastic’.
FLC still maintain a strong presence on the gig circuit across Europe and lead singer and guitarist Huey Morgan presents his own BBC6 Music show.
The multi-talented Fast – real name Brian Leiser – is a regular DJ at F1 after parties and composed the soundtrack for ‘Limelight’, a film about the notorious nightclub in New York City.
Former Fame Academy star Lemar will also appear. After finishing third on the BBC talent show, he has had seven top 10 UK singles and sold over 2million albums. The British soul star has also won two BRIT awards and three MOBOS over successive years.
Fresh from supporting dappy-rappers NDubz, X-Factor runners-up Encore will launch their new single ‘Tit For Tat’. The single promises to be their trademark blend of “banging baseline and gritty production with soulful vocal melodies, edgy rhymes and sweet harmonies”.
Controversial X-Factor loser Laura White, who went out after a shock vote in 2008, will also perform.
St Helens Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Minister for Culture, Communications and Town Centre, Cllr Barrie Grunewald said: “This is one of our jewels in our entertainment crown.
“We are totally committed to providing quality events in the town centre and across the borough. We want to provide the local community and visitors the chance to enjoy fantastic free entertainment.”
The free festival has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund and organised by St Helens Council Partnership Radio City 96.7FM and Arriva North West.
The full lineup:
Johnny 5th Wheel and the Cowards: 12:30 – 13.00
Camela Finnigan: 13:05 – 13:20
Aquablakk: 13:25 – 13:40
Rachel Adedeji: 13:45 – 14:05
Daniel Debourg: 14:10 – 14:30
Laura White: 14:40 – 15:00
Encore: 15:05 – 15:25
The Lancashire Hotpots: 15:40 – 16:20
Lemar: 16:40 – 17:10
Fun Lovin Criminals: 17:30 – 19:00