A POPULAR West Cumbrian festival will return this summer for its 15th event, with a popular Scottish fiddle ensemble topping the bill.

This years Cockermouth LIVE! will take place from Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7 and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

For the fifteenth Cockermouth LIVE!, the committee has announced that the headlining band for Friday night will be the red hot Scottish fiddle ensemble Blazin’ Fiddles.

The ensemble are described as a 'group of the hottest contemporary fiddle players from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland mixed with some wonderfully sympathetic piano and guitar arrangements'.

But Cockermouth LIVE! 2024 will, as ever, mainly be about free events for everyone, local musicians and local performers. Following on from the successful expansion of the festival last year, there will again be more space for slightly longer sets and more time to perform. The organisers are again aiming to put on more performances and activities on Sunday as well as the Saturday.

Last year, under blue skies and sunshine, thousands of people enjoyed 70 shows in 12 different locations from pubs to cafes to theatres to Cockermouth Castle, bringing in revenue to businesses all over town.

As well as Blazin’ Fiddles in the Kirkgate Centre, the team behind the festival are also planning a special Cockermouth Mechanics Band concert and encourage people to bring their own picnic on Saturday evening at the Castle.

The Cockermouth Community Orchestra will play its annual concert at Christ Church on Sunday evening. There are plans for one or two new family-friendly events for this year too.

Chair of Cockermouth LIVE!, Chris Bridgman said: "With a refreshed steering group, we're delighted to be keeping an expanded Festival, responding to the enthusiasm of audiences and performers alike - we've already had dozens of local performers sign up to take part.

"It's shaping up to be a packed weekend, with a rich range of activities across a wide variety of venues - including performances at Cockermouth Castle on both the Saturday and Sunday."

The team have said they will update plans as they emerge and will put out regular messages as performances are confirmed.