WELCOME Lancaster's Second Annual Music Festival, Friday Oct. 8th through Sunday Oct. 10th, 2010

About Lancaster Music Festival

Lancaster is one of Britain's best kept musical secrets. This is not an idle boast but an observation.

The city has a highly diverse world class secular and non-secular music scene supported by a large number of music locations (over 40), music organisations (over 20) and musicians (well over 300 listed acts in the district) and has lain relatively dormant and unknown for too long. This festival aims to put Lancaster firmly on the music map both here and abroad. And in a most entertaining way.

Lancaster’s local music scene is bejewelled with superb acts both original and cover, young and old. From award winning 60’s themed band Heroes of She, to Barnbox Records prodigious staple of young bands (neo-folk from Ottersgear, avant garde from Adventures of Loki) and Livewire Promotion’s rousing throng of punk acts from near and far (Guilty Pleasures, A48) mixing in with more traditional sounds from blues pianist Boogie Bill Roberts, the Latin sounds of nationally touring Lava, trad jazz veterans The Sun Street Stompers, ripping rock covers from Tin Pan Alley, international touring mod punk boogaloo from the Convulsions, West Gallery choral music from Gladly Solemn to name but a very few.

Local acts will be joined by internationally renowned performers such as award winning modern jazz outfit from Tampa Bay, Florida Level 10, the genre breaking classical work of the ThreeFifty Duo from New York, haunting avant-garde jazz pop from Vienna’s Marina Zettl & Thomas Mauerhofer and from Australia folk diva Marisa Yeaman.

The industry side of things will be taken up with open panel discussions held at the Storey courtesy of Creative Lancashire’s Sound Bytes initiative. Expect some big names in the music world sharing their expertise on the challenges of performing live and also touring internationally. There will be a double decker bus courtesy of Skiddle for musicians to be video interviewed and uploaded directly to the web.

The festival reflects the city's diversity and is driven by locations, organisations and the musicians who strive and survive here. The festival is run non-for-profit by Lancaster's own music agency CME Artist Services and relies on local support, not grants, so the event can be run each year, on the its own terms and without fear of funding running out (click <HERE> for the festival's stated objectives).

Innumerable restaurants and cafes (see food), a large number of real ale pubs (see ales - Mitchells of Lancaster, George & Dragon, Penny Bank and Merchants ale festivals and trails), plenty of night clubs (10), two theatres, and lots of accommodation to suit every taste and every pocket. Farmer's markets, open air and covered. Transition Town initiatives. Two universities, a castle, cathedral, canal, salmon river, a 30 mile bay overlooked by the mountains of the Lake District, England's largest folly situated on a landscaped Victorian park overlooking the whole lot and only 3 miles from the beach. These are the reasons Lancaster is a superbly unique festival location.

Oh yes, there's the witch's curse too. But more of that when you get here.

CONTACT / FIND US

Just out of sight of the M6 between junction 33 and 34 and two hours on the mainline from London and Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow). On the National Express Route from London to Glasgow. Direct trains from Manchester International Airport on the hour take 1.5 hours.

General enquiries to: info@lancastermusicfestival.com

Musicians: Sorry, we are not accepting artist applications anymore. The final calendar is done. Musicians who have already applied can contact us at music@lancastermusicfestival.com.

If you are a local business that would like to be advertised in the festival brochure, website and other press media please contact the festival coordinator at info@lancastermusicfestival.com for rates and options. Cut off for placing advertisement is Sept. 10th.

There is a Festival MySpace set up for bands to use and a festival blog is available, courtesy of Sue Seddon of Lancashire Life. To keep up to date with what is going on and to sign up to our newsletter see contacts. You can follow our festival coordinator's immediate updates on our Twitter account. Or contribute to our Facebook Event Blog.

Last Year's Festival

In 2009 we had our first all genre music festival. In many ways it was a pilot but it exceeded our expectations with many venues posting the busiest day, weekend or week since trading, many of the hotels and B&Bs fully booked, and an estimated 3-4000 folks attending the events. Last year we had 18 venues, 60 acts and 80 shows (see 2009 FEEDBACK). This year, with virtually the whole city behind the event, we expect to break all previous records (despite the much touted recession). Unusually, this festival is entirely self-supported through the venues and local businesses that thrive here and the public and private organisations that support them. There are no grants or handouts.

*A few individual events are tickted, most are not. Tickets for ticketed events will be available on venue's website, this website, and Lancaster and Morecambe Tourist Information Centres as and when available

Top