Burnley International Rock and Blues Festival
presented by Doc Redeye Events and Burnley Council
in proud association with AMS-NEVE
4-6th May 2012
The Burnley Blues festival has been an icon of the international music scene for almost 24 years, bringing some of the world’s greatest artists into the town.
Over the last few years the festival has struggled to maintain a three-day schedule, and it has been though the determination of a few local venues and the council that the event has continued to entertain enthusiastic audiences from around the UK. Now, a new partnership between the Council and Doc Redeye Events has brought the festival back to its rightful 3 day status, and to take the festival to even further international heights, the Oscar and Queens award winning company AMS-NEVE have joined the team to make this one of the greatest events in the music calendar again. This time the town will truly be involved, as Burnley is to be turned into ‘Little America’ for the weekend, with American themes across the town centre, cafes and bars. The fringe venues will all have their own identities, the Inn on the Wharf (The Chicago stage), the Talbot (The Austin Stage), the Coach and Horses (The New Orleans Stage) and the Bridge (The Memphis stage) are the first to be announced with more to follow. Cafes and restaurants will also be involved serving themed dishes and even pancakes and waffles in the mornings, with some hosting acoustic stages throughout the weekend.
The image of a North West English town becoming Little America for the weekend has already grabbed the attention of the USA with a major city having a real interest in sponsorship for the following year 2013. There will be fun events throughout the town as well as music and themed activities.
Councillor Jeff Sumner, the Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said: “It’s great that the Blues festival is back to rocking the town over three days and there’s going to be a great party atmosphere over the whole weekend. You won’t have to be a Blues fan to love every minute of what promises to be a brilliant festival.” The Burnley Rock and Blues Festival is also launching a dedicated website www.burnleyrockandblues.com over the next few weeks as the final contracts are completed and the full line-up announced. The festival team are determined to bring in young bands on the circuit as well to attract new audiences to the live music scene and put the new University town firmly on the map.
Fresh from recording their album with producer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals) Albany Down will be appearing at the festival alongside another ‘New Generation’ band Virgil and the Accelerators, who have just completed a sell out tour with Joanne Shaw Taylor and Oli Brown. One of the biggest Blues names in the US Jimmie Vaughan will be headlining the opening night in an exclusive UK appearance to keep the blues fans buzzing. More act confirmations coming soon.
For companies clubs or bars wishing to get involved in the event within programme advertising, sponsorship or even taking part in the Fringe Festival contact Steve Reid at [email protected] This will be one of the biggest events the town has ever seen, and is the re-birth of an annual event that should live for many more years. For info as the organisation develops and expands follow twitter@docredeye and watch this space. For general enquiries please contact The Mechanics Theatre on 01282 664400
From BLUES MATTERS in addition we say that everyone should also give special thanks and mention to the events’ own ‘saint’ Barbara Hood who has worked on the event for so many years now (following on from her husband Gary). Barbara has been a pillar for The Burnley Blues Festival………..we’d like to suggest that in coming years a stage is dedicated to her and perhaps called THE HOOD STAGE in tribute.
