24 fantastic images from Edgworth Folk Festival 2016

9 Oct, 2016

A festival has been hailed a record breaker as the sounds of traditional music entertained crowds.

Almost 300 people turned up to Edgworth Folk Festival to hear a variety of acts over three days in six separate rooms at The Barlow on Bolton Road.

With attendances a third up on previous years, the sixth year of the event will raise more than £3,000 for the repair and maintenance of the Edgworth village hub.

The event kicked off on Friday with dozens of live bands playing all weekend plus a series of workshops.

The first day hosted a ceilidh with The EverReady Band and caller Barbara Snape plus dance displays from Rivington Morris and Stone the Crows.

Saturday and Sunday saw a number of concerts, singarounds, displays, crafts, stalls and music sessions and workshops.

Artists included Sue Van Gaalen, Chris Rogan, Duncan McFarlane, Mark Dowding and Trio Threlfall.

The cafe and a real ale bar were open throughout the weekend.

Other performers were Bandersnatch, Nick Dow, Tre Cope, Yesterday’s Men, Heather McNeill, Chorley Cakes, Ukes Like Us, and Dave and Helen Howard.

Organising committee member Chris Nash said: “This year has surpassed expectations.

“We have had a record attendance of getting on for 300, more than a third up on previous years.

“We have had venues in in six separate rooms in use, on all floors of The Barlow.

“The highlight has been the engagement and enjoyment of everybody who came.

“The two big concerts on Saturday night were amazing but all the workshops and everything else have been really well attended and participated in.

“The weekend will have raised more than 3,000 to support The Barlow.

“It’s been the best ever.”

 

FRIENDS OF THE BARLOW

Blackburn with Darwen Council handed over the running and upkeep of The Barlow to the community in 2013. Since then The Barlow Charity has relied upon the generosity of benefactors and income from users of the facilities, plus the efforts of volunteers to sustain this much valued community facility. Significant improvements have been carried out to help ensure a long-term future, including a new roof, replacement windows, new hygienic worktops in the coffee shop kitchen and a new hot water & heating system. Most recently (summer 2022) the renovation of the outdoor veranda has been completed and a new adjacent decking area has been installed. In addition the snooker room has been restored to its former splendour by a small group of volunteers.

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An important source of funding that has contributed to the above mentioned improvements is The Friends of the Barlow scheme.  By becoming a Friend you can contribute to a fund that is used for repairs and renovations to the structural fabric of the building and pathways etc, and to upgrade, refresh and improve facilities e.g. now that the building is once again weathertight there are plans being drawn up for the main hall can be deep-cleaned, re-decorated and refurbished and other water-damaged areas such as the main stairway & its beautiful large, stained glass window to also be restored to their former glory.

As a Friend of The Barlow, your regular donations provide a much appreciated, steady income stream that to date (summer 2022) has raised in the region of over £40,000, which has been mostly used contributing towards paying for the roof, windows and heating system.
We intend to soon publish the overall list of improvements/tasks and from that you will see that there is a significant amount of expenditure still needed to achieve all of the identified tasks and improvements. We would welcome donations/sponsorship for specific items that may be of particular interest to individuals or families or groups, but the regular donations by Friends of The Barlow are also crucial. Therefore, we welcome any and all new donors and are grateful for whatever amount you choose to donate.

We are of course also very grateful to all of our existing Friends of The Barlow and if you are able to increase your monthly donation by any amount, that would be hugely appreciated – you can either make the increase to your standing order directly with your bank or you can complete a new form and send it to your bank or give it to us to process.

Please also consider increasing the value of your donation at no extra cost to you by using Gift Aid – as an example, an £8 donation from you becomes £10 with the Gift Aid add-on!

If you wish to donate please click on the link below, complete the form and either send it to your bank with an email copy to our email address fotb@thebarlow.co.uk  or return the completed form to the Barlow’s office in a sealed envelope addressed to Friends of The Barlow.  Paper copies of the form are available from The Barlow.

For any further information please email fotb@thebarlow.co.uk or contact the office via info@thebarlow.co.uk or 01204 852216.

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