Memories of last year’s New Islington Festival consist of torrential rain, Glastonbury grade mud and barely adequate waterproofs. Good weather makes such a difference when you’re working outdoors so thankfully this year the summer washout paused for a day and at times even the sun came out.

Our events company was looking after the street theatre and arts activities at what is billed as an 'urban folk festival for urban folk' that takes place on redevelopment land on the outskirts of Manchester city centre. Unlike 2006, this time round the event attracted thousands of festival goers who also enjoyed live music, DJ’s, poetry and dance courtesy of Ear to the Ground.

Our input included lantern making, clay and marbling workshops alongside family crowd pullers like four incredibly lifelike mountain gorillas and their eccentric keeper, the cute and other worldly backpackers otherwise known as the Flying Buttresses and a show for younger visitors inside a 50 foot whale. We also brought back sand sculptor Andrew Baynes who sat on his arse again all day fashioning a small flock of much photographed sheep.

My favourite act of all had to be Joan and John from St Joan Ambulance who stumbled around the festival site causing medically inept mayhem and leaving the crowd in absolute stitches. Much to our personal amusement they even tried to deliver Nicky’s baby on Old Mill Street and anyone tuning in to All FM would have heard what was probably the most surreal radio interview ever. These guys are really that good so if you’re looking for a great walkabout act just get them booked.

As with last year’s event, the festival closed with the launch of almost one thousand candle lit lanterns onto the canal basin courtesy of Urban Canvas who’d spent the day making them with visitors in one of the arts marquees. The pictures speak for themselves and as the sun went down over New Islington, there was a great deal of pride amongst everyone involved in making it such a memorable day.

Here’s a bit of The Beta Band for all you boutique festival types.