Audlem in Gossip magazines

As regular readers will know, the AudlemOnline webteam send an article about Audlem to the publishers of the popular Whitchurch and Market Drayton Gossip magazines each month.

The June article said:

Audlem knows how to party

Last month saw a fantastic Festival weekend in Audlem from 21st to 25th May. Massive crowds, 85 bands and other performers provided a wealth of entertainment from the Thursday night to midnight on Bank Holiday Monday.

The music covered a huge variety of genres from ska to choral with rock, pop, jazz, blues, folk and much else besides. This was Audlem's 15th Music & Arts Festival and the original founder, Paul Moran, was back to see how it has developed. To say the least, he was delighted at the sight of so many people enjoying what has to be one of the best free festivals anywhere.

It wasn't just music – art, poetry, history and cookery all played their part too. The art exhibition featured, almost totally, local artists and was highly praised.

The Courtyard at 11 Cheshire Street, with its cafe and shops, was a new venue this year with a full programme of music, poetry and an Indian cookery demonstration arranged by local butchers, Oxtail & Trotter, and Rose Petals & Rice, an Indian cookery school based in Audlem.

It was wonderful to see so many people in the village, a big boost to Audlem's local businesses who, with the three large sponsors – KMF Precision Sheet Metal; Morris Care and United Carpets – make the whole event possible with their support and funding – it's free entry to everything throughout the Festival for the public.

The Shropshire Union canal through the village was lined for well over a mile with visiting boats, while a field near the village centre was packed with visitors' caravans, camper vans and tents.

Amazingly, all the organisation, the three outdoor stages, the sound systems, the compering, is by local residents. Many are accomplished musicians too and could be seen taking centre stage themselves or playing with the visiting bands.

Not satisfied with one Festival in late May, another followed on the weekend of 30th and 31st May – the RNLI (the Lifeboat charity) Festival at Overwater Marina, just outside the village.

This saw lots of water based entertainment plus music, a dog show, BBQ, a full programme on the Saturday evening and throughout Sunday.

Anyone who has visited one of Audlem's major events knows this is a village that knows how to throw a party. Next up is Party on the Park on 4th July on the playing field where everyone picnics on probably the biggest night of the year in Audlem.

Local favourites Jim Kirkpatrick & Friends will open the show performing Blues, American Rock and more before The Tribute Show's 10-piece band takes to the giant stage to pay tribute to the best in American music.

Tickets are on sale now – although all the Gazebo spaces went months ago almost instantly they went on sale. You can buy them at www.audlem-aset.org or at Audlem Post Office or Nantwich Tourist Information Office.

Bring a picnic and have a fantastic party with great music and a fireworks finale to what will be a superb night. AudlemOnline – www.audlem.org – has all the details about Audlem Events and daily news.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.