THIS year’s Darwen Live will feature a youth stage for the first time in the festival’s 13-year history.

It will have a heavy metal feel, and organisers have teamed up with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation for the event.

The stage will be inside Darwen Leisure Centre on both days of the festival, which has reverted to its two-day format.

It will take place on the bank holiday weekend of Sunday and Monday, June 3 and 4.

The stage is to be called Darwen Live S.O.P.H.I.E, and the foundation will host a fundraising stall selling merchandise.

Sunnyhurst councillor Pete Hollings has helped organise the stage, in conjunction with the Darwen Live organising committee.

He said: “We wanted to come up with a way that youths could participate in Darwen Live.

“We hit on metal, which is what a lot of youths in Darwen are into.

“And a couple of young lads called Michele Melia and Adam Hollings came to a meeting, put their ideas forward and chose the bands.

“There is a mix of local inexperienced bands with other more established bands from as far away as Hull.”

Coun Hollings said that in its present format, there was nothing aimed specifically for youths at the festival.

He said: “When it rains, everyone just goes in a pub and has a pint, but the kids can’t do that.

“This will give them somewhere to go, but although it is aimed at youths, anyone can go to watch the music.”