This Here Festival coming back to Bacup next month

On Saturday, events will be based in the town centre while on Sunday activities will be held in Stubbylee Park.

This Here is organised by Bacup Cultural Consortium and was initially funded by the High Streets Heritage Action Zone, but has now secured Arts Council funding.

Project Manager of the ABD Centre in Burnley Road, Peter Dunn, said: “On the Saturday morning at the ABD Centre we will have three free 20-minute shows for children by Goofus Theatre – Tales from the Trunk – at 10.30am, 11.45am and 1pm.

Haslingden Choir singing at last year’s This Here Festival in Bacup (Image: Catherine Smyth)

“Then on the Saturday evening we will be launching the first of our Women in Music nights. These live music nights are funded by the BCC and the second event, on June 29, will be a Gin and Jazz night with Bacup business Ginsmith Distillery.

“It is about bringing local people, local talent and local businesses together.

“The BCC also awards microgrants, one of which is funding Bacup Museum to open for a special D-Day 80 Commemoration from Thursday June 6 to Saturday June 8 from noon to 4pm.”

On Bacup Market, artist Amy Callaghan will be running a workshop to create Viking comics based on the Viking Legend of Stubbylee while the lively Skiband will entertain throughout the town.

Irwell Terrace will be the base for a giant chess set, traditional children’s games, walkabout comedy delivered by the Temperence Society and a specially-written Bacup Heritage theatre show based in and around a traditional Bowtop wagon, which was built by the consortium.

On Sunday, Stubbylee Park will be alive to the sound of music and many activities will be based in the picturesque Rose Garden.

A dance piece - Ballad of the Selkie, written by Aimee Williamson, will be performed, Bay Street Beat Band will be entertaining and one of last year’s finalists in the Lancashire Choir of the Year Valley Aloud will be singing.

Chair of BCC Esther Ferry-Kennington said: “At 12pm a workshop will be held at the greenhouses when Lancashire County of Song’s Loz Kaye will deliver a free singing workshop exploring a Rossendale legend.

The Bay Street Beat Band at last year’s This Here Festival will be back this year (Image: Catherine Smyth)

“The White Stag Cantata was first developed at the Horse and Bamboo in Waterfoot in the 1990s and will be restaged at the Greenhouses at 2pm.”

Stubbylee Community Greenhouses director of operations Souta Van Wick said: “The choir will be singing in the courtyard of the Greenhouses and we hope the event will raise awareness of what we do in the park to support people who are maybe a little isolated or need help with wellbeing.

“Our café will also be open and there will be plants for sale and by spending money here you will be supporting the free activities we give to people.”