The full line up for the Lancaster Music Festival has been confirmed. From Friday 11 October to Sunday 13 October there will be 142 acts (a staggering 100 from Lancaster and Morecambe) performing 199 events at 35 venues including 33 city centre venues all within easy walking distance and two Lancaster University bars (County and Bowland). Most of the events are free too.
A packed weekend of top notch local and global musical talent is in store with new acts arriving and proven favourites returning to a city which has always welcomed and nurtured live music. Based on the festival successes of the last four years this will be Lancaster’s fifth and biggest music festival so far.
From folk, jazz, blues, soul, funk, grunge, punk, pop to contemporary classical, avant garde and even bicycle powered music on the back of a beer dray we expect everyone to find outstanding sounds that they will enjoy in a lively and festive atmosphere.
Along with national and international acts the festival will also host the launch of the City of Lancaster Busking Program, pedal powered music, mini ale festivals and plenty of food both in the venues and the market stalls. The event is family friendly during the day (though most venues don’t admit children after 9pm). The festival ale will be provided by Thwaites.
Most of the music will be provided by the outstanding talent and variety of acts that originate and perform in the Lancaster district, for example, The Lovely Eggs, Jay Diggins, Get Carter Experience with Madness ex-keyboardist James Mackie, singer songwriter loop sensation Alex Hulme, Celtic fiddle virtuosity from Hard Times, mod punk boogaloo mayhem from the Convulsions and award winning Latin guitarist Howard Haigh. There will also be internationally renowned and touring acts from as far away as Vienna (Marina Zettl), Austin (Geoff Union), Warsaw (Paula and Karol) and all over the UK e.g. funk soul extravagants Rene and guitar virtuoso Franco and the Dreadnought from Manchester as well as BBC 6 star Heidi Brown from Cheshire. And it’s not just bands and soloists. There will also be featured DJ sets including Danny Howells performing until 6am.
The full calendar of events is now available on the Festival Website at http://www.lancastermusicfestival.com where you can also find information about the artists and the venues.
A few of the events are ticketed and tickets can be obtained online from the festival website, at Lancaster’s Visitor Information Centre and the venues themselves.
If you have any general enquiries or are interested in volunteering for the festival or wishing to advertise or sponsor, please get in touch with the festival coordinator Ben Ruth at info@lancastermusicfestival.com.
You can also keep track of Festival doings on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LancasterMusicFestival
Lancaster Music Festival is one of the first recipients of funding from the newly formed Lancaster Business Improvement District (branded as ‘Lancaster Unlimited’). The support was awarded for significant new innovations in this year’s festival production
For 2014 the BID funding could enable a considerable leap in the profile nationally of the music festival where certain projects that would benefit local businesses had hitherto been beyond budget – but can now be applied for.
FESTIVAL TESTIMONY:
“You should feel justly proud” (Boogie Bill, Lancaster)
“We had an absolute ball” (Marisa Yeaman, Melbourne)
“Viva live music!” (Gobbledegook, Lancaster)
“We miss the real ales….can’t wait for next year!” (ThreeFifty Duo, New York City)