A FESTIVAL is set to delight music fans this summer after its future was placed in doubt last year when organisers quit.
The popular Horwich Music Festival will take place at two venues – Horwich Community Centre and Horwich RMI – from Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7.
For the first time, there will be a dedicated Rock-It! youth stage at the RMI with rock, indie, punk-rock, soul and acoustic performers.
Cllr Gordon Stone, the newly elected Mayor of Horwich, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the festival is going ahead this year.
“When I and fellow councillors looked at whether it was viable, we were amazed at the response.
“This was followed by much hard work and enthusiasm to build on the success of the festival from previous years.”
The festival, sponsored by Bolton at Home, has a new committee but is following the tradition of showcasing a cross-section of music from community choirs to brass bands, jazz to R & B and classical music to rock.
Headliners include soulful singer-songwriter Lauren Housley, who has two albums behind her, Bolton’s The Two Hats Blues Band, Nightcreatures and Corus Brass Ensemble.
Baritone John Ieuan Jones will also be showing why he has fans across the world and guitarist Paul Thornton will be playing an eclectic mix of songs in a variety of different styles.
The local music scene is further highlighted by Horwich Community Choir, which has 56 members, and the town’s Kadenza Women’s Choir.
Festivities will come to a close on Sunday evening courtesy of Bandersnatch and The Modern Vintage Swing Band.
Tickets are available via the website horwichmusicfestival.com or by calling 07731 862153.
Last year fears were raised the music festival could face an uncertain future after organisers stepped down.
But a new committee was formed to assess whether there was sufficient demand for the festival to have a future, and public meetings were held to build support from the local community.