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REVIEW: Lancaster Music Festival
IT'S not often you get to dance the blues in a 400 year old wine cellar.
But the Kirris Riviere Blues Band certainly popped a few corks in the Merchants on Saturday night in what for me was the highlight of the first ever Lancaster Music Festival.
There were others, no doubt, The Convulsions and Butch Ross at the Park, Tantrum and Red Gap at the Golden Lion, and Circus Freak at the Pub were all superb.
Had I more sets of ears (and legs) I would have made it to the Dukes to see Mostly Hums, the Stonewell Tavern for Vandeville Falls, and down to the quayside for some maritime joviality.
Barnbox Records' indie fest at The Park was also apparently brilliant - and packed full of people.
All told around 4000 music lovers descended on Lancaster nightspots over the weekend - with many an entrance blocked with bodies and many a neck sore from craning around unfortunately placed walls.
With many venues three deep at the bar at an uncertain time for publicans, surely this was a great thing for Lancaster's heritage nightlife?
From what I saw, the city was certainly in high spirits, and credit where it's due goes to festival organiser and multi instrumentalist Ben Ruth for pulling the city's venues together, bringing in artists from elsewhere and making it all (or most of it) free.
He said: "It worked! The weekend was a resounding success and most of the venues were packed.
"Lots of people commented that this was something that has been needed in Lancaster for quite some time.
"There were a few out of towners as well, but I'm so pleased that the Lancaster people came out and supported the festival."
And we can expect more of the same next year, with bookings for the second Lancaster Music Festival in the pipeline already.
All in all a fantastically eclectic weekend of music just when you think it's all over for the summer.
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Weather for Lancaster
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
