#20in2020

Ed – apologies that these memories were credited to Pete Marshall and not Paul Moran in the first version of this article

The 20th Audlem Festival

This week end I should have been celebrating 20th Audlem Music Festival #20in2020 but sadly this amazing festival is another victim of the dreaded virus. It will be back but #20in2020 won't so I thought I would look back on the first 6 years, when I ran the festival -- The Town Hall Years.

Year one 2001: never kept a programme but held our first Town Hall gig with a sell out audience for Mark Radcliffe & his band, Family Mahone along with Zydercomotion & their exciting Cajon. With a very busy bar, supported by Roy & Vicky (Shroppie Fly) the festival was on its way....

Starting with a bank balance of £00.00 my 6 years in charge would be fun.

Year one saw the start of "Blues Alley" the only venue with an A road between the audience & the stage but greatly supported by Beamans of Audlem.

The festival also gave me some great friendships; – Ralph Warburton, Ian Haughey, Liz Haughey, Pete Marshall, Pete Hardy, Alg & Jane, Jimmy K, Annabel, Lorraine, John, Al Dean all of whom have made major contributions to the festival over its 20 years.

{Ed – Who said "nostalgia isn't what it used to be?"
We will try to persuade Paul to give us more of his memories of the early Festival years. }