Union of European bands
heads to new festival date

The first Fylde Rock and Roots Festival will take place at Great Birchwood Country Park, Warton from June 18 to 21.

Proceeds from the event, the latest in a rapidly-expanding array of summer attractions across Fylde, will go to Macmillan Cancer Support – and organisers hope it will become an annual event.

Music will feature on two stages – main and acoustic – throughout the four days of the festival, which is intended to be both family-friendly and affordable, with a full weekend adult ticket available for £20, day tickets at £10 and youngsters aged 15 and under admitted free with an adult ticket holder.

Along with European bands such as The Keys from Lithuania and the Connemara Stone Company, from Germany, performers will include St Annes-based songwriter Joni Fuller, who has played all over Europe since making her debut as a 12-year-old at the Montreux Jazz Festival and held the distinction of being the only solo performer at the Indie Week Europe Final Showcase, held in Manchester on May 31.

“I am really looking forward to the Fylde Rock and Roots Festival - there is a great line-up planned and it will be great to perform so close to home,” said Joni, who is head of music at St Annes College Grammar School.

Troubadour from Blackpool, The FOS Brothers from Exeter and The Repeat Offenders from Northampton are among the other performers and Blackpool-based festival director Tamsin Porter said: “The main aims of the festival are to bring quality bands and artists to the area, while trying to help to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“The festival has a truly international feel about it.

Among those performing will be Germany’s Connemara Stone Company, who will be making their first appearances in the UK, and Lithuania’s acclaimed prog rock outfit, The Skys, along with new and established acts from across the UK, and the best in local talent such as Joni Fuller, Troubadour, Solid States and Cassiopeia.”

Admission will be available on the gate all weekend.

But details of tickets and all other aspects of the festival are available to view at www.frrfest.com.