THE band who helped Bob Marley make musical history and one of the pioneers of the Manchester music scene are among the headliners for the Cotton Clouds Festival which is back for a third year in Saddleworth this summer.

The line-up for the two-day festival has been revealed and it will see Peter Hook and his band The Light headlining on the Friday night and the Wailers bringing the festival to a reggae-infused close on the Saturday.

The brainchild of Rick and Max Lees who also created the successful Tim Peaks Diner at festivals around the UK and local entrepreneur Luke Stanley, Cotton Clouds has been nominated for ‘Best Small Festival’ and ‘Best Family Festival’ two years running at the UK Festival Awards.

This year the festival will be held at Saddleworth cricket Club on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17.

The family-friendly festival will feature street food stalls, pop up bars and a real ale tent. There will even be a Cotton Clouds Ale from the Donkeystone Brewery.

For the first time this year, there will also be a Traders’ Market featuring local producers and craftsmen selling boutique gifts, arts and crafts .

New for youngsters in 2019 will be a special children’s rave and the Musical Robots will be staging a techno takeover.

The line-up for this year is arguably the most impressive yet.

On the Friday, Peter Hook will be performing classic hits from both Joy Division and New Order’s back catalogue. Hook was bassist in both of the legendary bands.

Supporting him will be rockers Ash fronted by Tim Wheeler, who this year celebrate 30 years together.

The line-up also features American outfit Alabama 3 whose song Woke Up This Morning will forever be associated with cult TV drama The Sopranos, the Mouse Outfit and hotly-tipped She Drew the Gun.

Completing the Friday offering are a number of Greater Manchester bands being given the opportunity to perform on a big stage - Saytr Play, Agbeko, The Maitlands and Callow Youth.

Saturday will feature an packed line-up headed by The Wailers who have been delighting crowds around the world for 50 years. Expect a set packed with hits including No Woman No Cry, Buffalo Soldier, Jamming and No Woman No Cry.

Supporting them will be Sheffield based Reverend and the Makers, the House and Garage Orchestra and Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess who will be performing a solo set.

DJ, author, musician and presenter Mark Radcliffe will be appearing with his new electronica project Mark Radcliffe’s Une as will Oh My God! It’s the Church, Patawa and hip hop star Jordan Max.

Emerging talent lined up for the Saturday includes Secluded Sea, the Silver Field, The Flatline, The C33s, Hey Bulldog, Dirty Laces, the People, Stereohaze and La Mode and solo performers Coby Fletcher and Sam McGurk.

n Cotton Clouds Festival, Saddleworth Cricket Club, Friday, August 16 and Saturday, Saturday, 17. Tickets are now on sale. Full details from www.cottoncloudsfestival.com