HULL'S biggest festival has been given a boost after five leading businesses in the city pledged their support.
Business partners the University of Hull and Keepmoat and sponsors ABP, The Deep and Compendium Living have all announced they are to support Freedom Festival, which takes place this weekend.
The five companies join initial supporters KC, the Wykeland Group, Hull College and Spencer Group.
Jenny Coombes, development manager of the festival, said Hull's City Of Culture shortlisting has bolstered support for the festival.
"There's definitely a massive buzz around Hull at the moment, and it feels like everyone in the city wants to do their bit toward the City Of Culture bid," she said.
"Support we've received for this year's festival has been fantastic and we're thrilled to have our sponsors on board.
"Yet we're already looking ahead to next year and a longer-term strategy.
"Freedom is a phenomenal event that is only set to grow, and we're excited about where we can take the festival in future years."
Freedom is funded by Hull City Council, Arts Council England and James Reckitt Library Trust, as well as private sector sponsorship.
Mark Knight, new build managing director for Keepmoat, said Freedom will celebrate 'everything that is great about Hull'.
He said: "The Freedom Festival will celebrate everything that is great about the city and the people who call Hull home.
We are delighted to be involved as Hull bids to become UK City Of Culture in 2017."
The line-up for this year's Freedom Festival include up-and-coming guitar band The 1975, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, Pappy's, The Paper Cinema's Odyssey, a spectacular torchlight procession through the city's old town and a UK-exclusive from French theatre pioneers Transe Express.
Matt Jukes, port director of Hull, Goole and Humber Estuary Services, said the cultural fit of Hull's historic port and the festival which celebrates the city's heritage is an exciting opportunity.
"We're delighted to be working with Freedom for the first time this year," he said.
"It's an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to get involved in such a prestigious event, and to celebrate the city's cultural heritage, of which the port is such an important part, in this way.
"We're looking forward to what I hope will be a long and fruitful partnership."
