The Prodigy, The Zutons, Goldfrapp and chart toppers Gnarls Barkley are some of the big names booked for this year’s Creamfields festival. The event now in its ninth year has a new site in Daresbury, Cheshire. The festival, on Saturday 26th August has increased its capacity to 45,000 after the move from the old Speke airfield site to Daresbury. Despite some objections from local residents the festivals licence was granted by Halton Council at the end of June. Local act The Zutons are set to be one of the attractions with an early evening slot on the main stage, the band have requested plasma screens in their dressing room so they don’t miss any of the action in Liverpool’s first premiership home game against West Ham.  | | Gnarls Barkley will be at Creamfields |
Away from the main stage Coldcut, Erick Morillo, DJ Shadow and Roger Sanchez will be just some of the artists appearing in the many different arenas across the site. Cream’s Chief Executive James Barton spoke to BBC Liverpool about this year's festival saying that although the festival may be in its ninth year he always feel improvements can be made. “In a way we still think it’s in the development phase. I think we’re always sort of reviewing it and trying to improve it. “We’ve probably come close once or twice over the last eight years to feeling that we’ve delivered a show that we feel as though we could give ourselves a high score on. “I think it’s everything, it’s about line-up, the performance of that line-up, the organisation of the event and also obviously financially as well. When you’re running an event this big you have to be happy with the financial aspects as well as other aspects. Last year we came very close in our mind to delivering the perfect festival.” How are plans progressing given that the festival has a new location this year?| "We see ourselves as the major player in Liverpool for live music and we don’t see ourselves being restricted to one particular sound." | | James Barton |
“The show has got to happen yet so I’ve got to be careful what I say here. I think up to now the new location combined with this line-up and also the reaction and ticket sales to date, I think it’s looking really good and what we need now is great weather and what we also need is everything to go well on the day.” “In a lot of respects it is like starting again. The experience that we’ve gained over the last seven years in Liverpool obviously we’re taking in to Daresbury. But at the same time we’re in a new location, a new local authority, a whole new set of relationships that need to be developed. “There will be new challenges on a new site. I think it probably will take us at least two shows or maybe even three shows until we feel that we’re confident and happy in what we’re doing.” There were some objections from local residents is that something you hope to overcome in time?“The only thing I can say is that the impact that Creamfields has made to Liverpool has not been disputed. The fact that the event generates so much positive awareness and image for the city within the U.K. amongst young people, but also is reflected internationally on Liverpool.  | | Cream boss James Barton |
“The difference was when we went in to Speke there was quite a bit of scepticism which is right. I’d never expect it to be any other way. Seven years later when we announced we were relocating out of the city this was described as a huge loss to the city. So I hope we have the same impact in Warrington and Widnes and Runcorn. I hope that people understand that events like this can also bring benefits as well as some of the issues they have raised.” Away from Creamfields what other things are you working on?“We’re hoping to be in a position quite soon to announce some of our intentions or some of our desires for a role in Liverpool over the next two to three years obviously that will include that we will have offered or proposed to be organiser of the Summer Pops in Liverpool. We’ve also got some plans for maybe one or two other pieces of activity either in Liverpool or very close to Liverpool which we hope will play a part. I think we see an opportunity for not just ourselves but also another opportunity for Liverpool to sort of once again play a significant role in music in the U.K. and also in Europe. So Creamfields is not the only thing we want to do. “We see ourselves as the major player in Liverpool for live music and we don’t see ourselves being restricted to one particular sound. We have ten years of experience of organising large scale music events. We think we’re very good at booking talent. We think we’re very good at marketing those events and we create events which make money.” Which part of the festival are you most looking forward to this year? | | This years festival will be at Daresbury |
“I’m looking forward to seeing The Zutons because I think The Zutons is probably the only artist on the line-up which I think people were surprised to see. “Obviously it’s a local act, they’ll be playing an early slot on the main stage and they’ve had two platinum albums, they’re massive at the moment. I just hope people get there early enough to see them. “I always visualise it when I’m programming the main stage. I always try and visualise what it will be like and I think The Zutons at half five on this new site surrounded by trees and hills will just be perfect to kick off the main stage.” Creamfields takes place on Saturday 26th August Bank Holiday weekend. Tickets £54 plus booking fee. | 
