No main marquee at Maryport Blues Festival
Last updated at 19:44, Thursday, 02 February 2012
Maryport Blues Festival will go ahead this year – but without the main marquee.
Spiralling costs have forced organisers to downsize the annual July event.
The main stage, which was in a marquee at Netherhall Rugby Club, will no longer feature. The festival will instead concentrate on town centre venues between July 27 and July 29.
There will be a main town centre stage, although its location is yet to be confirmed.
Dave Park, chairman of the blues committee, said: “These are uncertain times economically and we want everyone to benefit from what the festival brings to the town.
“It is essential to the future of the festival that we have support from the local community and businesses. It cannot go on with goodwill alone.
“We hope the decision will be welcomed by the people of Maryport, after the extremely difficult decision last year not to continue with the stage at Shipping Brow.”
The town trail will return and organisers want more venues to take part. Several bands are already confirmed, including Lucy Zirins, Hooson and the Nat Martin Band.
Mr Park added: “The organisation of this year’s festival has been difficult due to a number of external complications, not just financial, especially the Olympics which have made equipment more difficult to source and more expensive.”
He said the committee decided to bring the main festival back into the town centre after the success of last year’s family stage at Maryport Rugby League Football Club.
Now in its 14th year, the festival began with a marquee on the harbourside in 1999. It was moved to Netherhall Rugby Club when the event became more popular.
It is estimated that more than 35,000 people pump up to £2.5m into the local economy each year. Mr Park added: “It is organised by Maryport Festivals Limited alone. It’s a huge responsibility for the not-for-profit company to take on.”
Netherhall Rugby Club will still be used for camping and car parking.
Maryport Festivals, to help pay for the blues festival, is planning a weekend music event in Workington in May, and Mr Park said more details would be released soon.
First published at 19:25, Thursday, 02 February 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk
OK - Allerdale council do not support whitehaven maritime (Whitehaven is in copeland).Nor do they support the Jazz festival in keswick!!!! Maryport Town Council DO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL. Isnt it about time that the festival committee produced a balance sheet-now thats food for thought.
Maryport blues is just a drink fest - not a family atmosphere at all.I would rather take my kids to paint the town red and the maritime festival than this rubbish in maryport.
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I CANT BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE JUST READ !
I have been to every Bluesfest since it
started on Sunday afternoons in "The Vatican".
To read it now will have no main tent surely sounds the death nell for this money spinning event for Maryport.
It was great when it first started in the pubs and expanded to the tent by the Marina.
Maybe it just outgrew itself?
Having heard rumours from local Maryportians about disputes within the commitee,surely someone / some organisation should step in to keep this thing going ! People come from all around the world to Maryport for that one weekend and fitting them all in "The Lifeboat" may overload the floor in the upstairs bar!
Still cannot believe wot i have read but having said that, i haven't seen the overheads. I WISH IT ALL THE SUCCESS FOR 2012 AND I WILL STILL BE THERE. RAIN OR SHINE COS I LOVE MARYPORT AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET THERE ! XXXX
Posted by Bloos Fan on 22 March 2012 at 23:49