Mfest 2012 unveils The Human League, Texas, Levellers, Inspiral Carpets for first Morrison's Festival in Yorkshire - on Sale now

Mfest

With the ever-changing market-place and financial constraints meted out to all and sundry, by all and sundry, music festivals continue to change, evolve and (attempt to) entertain potential audiences. Nowadays at family weekenders, you are just as likely to witness a cooking demonstration as you are seeing Tinchy Stryder waggling his fingers on stage, or Annie Mac causing a rib-cage rattling rumpus on some grassy knoll in the middle of nowhere.

More recently, food has played a bigger part in festival line-ups - Alex James' Harvest series, currently taking time out to perfect burgers (possibly), Ben & Jerry's Summer Sundaes and Jamie Oliver's attempt last year being a few of the most obvious. The north of England is perhaps in need of a change in food and music priorities - and it just so happens that regional grocer and supermarket traders Morrisons have done just that.

Taking a leaf out of previous similar events' books and adding their own (commercial) take on what a festival should be, Mfest 2012, based near Leeds and due to take place on 7th and 8th July, has been formulated to offer you great music, food, comedy and even sports stars doing 'their thing'. The first two of those categories are the first to have their line-ups unveiled - and they're not too shabby either.

Aimed at the whole family age range, music headliners will include '80s chart-busters Texas (on Saturday) and The Human League (on Sunday), plus Beverley Knight, Matt Cardle, Bob Geldof, Cher Lloyd and The Blockheads on Saturday and Levellers, Scouting for Girls, Inspiral Carpets and Ali Campbell's UB40 on the Sunday. There are loads more bands confirmed for each day, while Paul Heaton is set to play on BOTH days. That, my friends, constitutes a weekend FULL of familiar hits from the past few decades.

Celebrity chefs will be on hand throughout the weekend with various foodie demonstrations and cookery shows, including Aldo Zilli, Bryn Williams, Nigel Haworth, Valentine Warner and Atul Kochhar, all familiar faces from BBC's Saturday Kitchen etc. The comedy and sports names will be unveiled in due course.

Meanwhile, tickets are available to purchase now with day tickets priced at £49.50 or £95 for weekenders

Paul Pledger