Lancaster Music Festival 2011

Over 100 acts from as far away as Australia, Austria, Italy, USA, various parts of the UK and, of course, our own superb staple of musical excellence that fuelled this festival in the first place: Maritime is back on the quay, there’s a ‘Festival of Funk’ at the Gregson on Saturday, two days of student acts at the Park Hotel, an explosion of acts at the Bobbin, Jah Wobble’s “Memoirs of a Geezer” at the Dukes, Madness keyboardist James Mackie’s blazing Hammond at the Merchants, festival headliner Kirsty Almeida at the Dalton Rooms, USA’s diva of Americana Danika Holmes at Moorlands
Hotel and the John O’Gaunt, bar stool hopping mod punk boogaloo from the Convulsions at Penny Street Bridge Hotel, some exquisite jazz pop courtesy of Vienna’s Marina Zettl at the Water Witch, classical guitars or NYC returnees Threefifty Duo, virtuosity jazz piano from Italy’s Marco Marconi at Greaves Park, Celtic romping at Fibbers and Ring ‘O Bells. Jazz at the Robert Gillow. 28 venues. 101 acts.
And that’s just the music (some). Local organisation LESS are putting on a food festival (see back page and festival map for locations), Mitchells have produced a festival ale (look for the hand pump clip) and some of the venues (e.g. Robert Gillow) are putting on their own ale festivals. There’s even a free phone application (see page 9). Most shows are free. Those that are not have tickets at the venue, our Visitor Information Centre, or on our website: www.lancastermusicfestival.com