Plans have finally been unveiled for the latest TT festival attraction to feature on Douglas promenade.

The Hooded Ram festival will kick off on Saturday, May 26, for the duration of TT fortnight, situated at the Bottleneck car park, the former home of the Bushy’s Beer tent, which has moved to the Villa Marina gardens.

Two big name acts appearing at the festival have already been announced, with New York’s finest Fun Loving Criminal making a welcome return to the island, having appeared at the Villa previously some 17 years ago, and the UK pop rock group Scouting For Girls.

The Fun Loving Criminals, featuring charismatic frontman and Radio 6 DJ Huey Morgan, will appear on Sunday, May 27, on the main stage, housed in a giant marquee with a capacity of 2,800.

They will be supported by local groups Han-FX and JOR-DMC and 3 Million.

Scouting For Girls, who scored chart hits with ’She’s So Lovely’ and ’Elvis Ain’t Dead’, will be appearing on Wednesday, May 30, supported by the local singer songwriter Ian Thompson and the young group The Bobbleheads, who have grown out the Soundcheck youth music project.

Tickets for both nights cost £27.50.

Local bands complete the remainder of the line up, with the Pearl Jam tribute band Lost Dogs appearing on Thursday 31, and the legendary Pink Floyd tribute act Pigs On The Wing finishing off the fortnight on Friday, June 8.

The Pigs concert will cost £12.50 to enter. All other nights will be free to enter

The Liverpool trance-rock group Foxtrap, featuring Manx singer Helen Morrison headline on Thursday, June 7, with Post War Stories in support.

Local musician Steve Leach has organised the line up for this year’s festival, and he believes that it puts the focus firmly on local talent.

’In its inaugural TT year at The Bottleneck car park, Hooded Ram has created a two week event that aims to provide locals and TT visitors alike with something of a festival feel each day,’ said Steve.

’Focused very much on live music, the whole feel and atmosphere aims to have a different theme and music style each day.’

Three local charities are set to benefit from the special Mad Sunday charity day event.

With entry being a donation of your choice, all proceeds will be donated to three charities selected from a list of eight, chosen through an on online poll.

Local Iron Maiden covers group Ed Force One will headline the night, supported by The Boneyard.

There will also be a return to the promenade stunt performances, with displays from wheelie king Steve Colley and the stunt riders John Pearson Broke and Lee Bowers.

The action will take place on three nights, Mad Sunday, and Tuesday and Thursday of race week.

With planning permission finally granted on the site this week, building will begin on the festival site this weekend, and the organisers are looking to get started on building the huge complex, equipped with state-of-the-art bar, a major international festival dispensing system, capable of pouring over 350 pints a minute, and two satellite on-site bar vans, a Jameson Airstream classic trailer and a Campo Veijo vintage Citroen wine van.

’We are looking to create a unique festival vibe on the island for TT Week,’ said Jim Brookman, events manager for the Hooded Ram festival.

’We wanted to have something that featured a great line up of local bands, and brought the stunt shows back to the promenade.

’This will be a festival that will deliver a high quality experience to the TT fan over the coming fortnight.’

More details on the Hooded Ram festival can be found on its Facebook page and oat hoodedramfest.co.uk

by Mike Wade

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