Festival puts 'underestimated town on the map'

A music festival organiser has said he hopes to show his town "in a different light" after it recently hit the headlines.

Twisterella will see five venues in Middlesbrough host 35 acts from across the world later, including local singer Loren Heat who said it was "putting such an underestimated town on the map".

In August seven men, including two police officers, died in a head-on crash on the A66. Since then multiple people have been arrested as part of a wider police operation against organised crime in the area.

Music promoter and festival co-founder Henry Carden said after Middlesbrough fell under the spotlight for the wrong reasons, people needed to be reminded there was more to it.

He said: "I think it's a really difficult conversation because I think the things that people are seeing are happening and it's real, but there is another side to it as well.

"I think events like Twisterella and the Turner Prize coming to Mima show Middlesbrough in a different light."

He said it was a "really exciting place" to be for art, culture and music.

"There's a lot of things to shout about with a positive light on it at the moment."

Previous performers at Twisterella, now in its 12th year, have included Sam Fender and The 1975.

Among this year's acts is singer Heat, from Middlesbrough, whose career has taken her as far as Japan and Texas.

It is the third time she will play at Twisterella.

She said: "I think it's brilliant that people are out here putting such an underestimated town on the map.

"It's lovely just playing in my hometown."

Teesside University has hosted gigs as part of the festival since it started in 2014.

Head of facilities and events Luke Stretton said the festival needed to be supported, not only to bring money into the area but to keep the live music scene in the town.

He said: "We know there have been venues that have been lost over the past couple of years, venues with a real legacy like the Westgarth.

"It's important that we continue to support live music and bring live music into Middlesbrough - we need to support them here so they can get the exposure they need."

Twisterella is running throughout the day at venues across the town.

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