HALE Barns Carnival returns for 2021 with a number of artists lined-up over three nights.

When it was staged in 2019 the festival raised more than £100,000 for the local community.

This year’s event takes place across the weekend of Friday, July 16, Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, with demand for tickets meaning the live music has been extended to three evenings for the first time.

The headline live acts performing at Hale Barns Carnival 2021 are disco legends Boney M – featuring Maizie Williams, opera vocalist Russell Watson, and 80s favourites Katrina and the Waves and 5 Star featuring Denise Pearson.

And as another new addition for 2021, a preview party concert at the Garrick Playhouse in Altrincham on Saturday, July 3, will star Odyssey along with special guest, Mama Used to Say singer Junior Giscombe.

A very special Proms with Russell Watson officially opens the event on the evening of Friday, July 16.

Salford-born Russell is the UK’s best-selling classical artist, and this year marks the 21st anniversary of his debut solo album The Voice reaching the number one chart spot and catapulting the singer into the music industry spotlight.

The following evening the headliners are Boney M, featuring Maizie Williams.

Boney M dominated the disco scene during the late 1970s with a string of classic hits including Daddy Cool, Ma Baker, Rasputin and number one Rivers of Babylon, while their version of Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord spent four weeks at the top of the charts at Christmas 1978.

Then on Sunday an Eighties extravaganza is promised, headlined by Katrina and the Waves and 5 Star featuring Denise Pearson, and with support from Doctor and the Medics.

Katrina and the Waves scored a massive 80s hit with the irrepressible Walking on Sunshine, and in 1997 went on to win Eurovision for the United Kingdom with the anthem Love Shine a Light.

Organiser Max Eden from Hale Barns Events said: “After the last 12 months, we wanted Hale Barns Carnival to come back bigger and better than ever before.

“During lockdown we held some popular ‘party at home’ events which were really well supported by the community, and we were also able to stage a smaller version of the annual carnival event live last summer. But we’re really pleased to be able to present a fantastic full programme again for 2021."

Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks at: www.halebarnscarnival.co.uk