Real Radio XS hosts biggest ever MockFest

Real XS’ Mockfest event took place over the weekend and station bosses report the sold-out gig was the biggest in its three year history.

5,000 people attended the event at Castlefield in Manchester, 1,000 more than last year and twice as many as the year before. “This shows just how much the event has grown and become an established date in Rock Music fans calendars,” the station said.

Hard Rock Café sponsored the beach stage, which played host to unsigned local talent as well as DJ sets. Eight tribute and cover bands performed on the main stage, headlined by the UK Foo Fighters and including special guests Real XS’ very own Mike Sweeney.

Real XS’ Mark Matthews told RadioToday: “To have grown Mockfest each year in such a short timeframe is testament not only to the calibre of the event, but the loyalty of our listeners who support it.”

The station has recently been offered for sale by hold-separate owners Global Radio, who said they would be willing to off-load the station to satisfy competition issues. Most of the staff at the station have recently left to join TeamRock, the new national rock station operated by Billy Anderson and John Myers.

Global Radio, which bought the station along with Real Radio and Smooth Radio last June, will find out before May 22nd the results of an investigation by the Competition Commission into the future structure of the company.