Don’t miss the Fleetwood Folk and Blues Weekend #FaBweekend 2018

Starting this Thursday 30 August until Sunday 2 September 2018 at various venues around Fleetwood for a full three days of community based quality live music.

Fleetwood Folk and Blues held their first event in 2015. It was an intimate event bringing quality live Folk, Blues and Acoustic Music and Dance into four venues across Fleetwood. By 2017, the third Folk and Blues event boasted eight venues with the return of the Singarounds, Glazey Days Craft Cafe and Sessions Venue. 2018 takes us back to the Marine Hall, using all three rooms, and nearby venues, The Mount, North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood Museum and The Bug. The passion and enthusiasm continues with the community and local businesses including pubs, tourist attractions and hotels getting involved. Fleetwood Folk and Blues has doubled in size since its creation in 2015 and continues to go from strength to strength, boasting the best Artists on the scene from new emerging acts to established folk familiars.

Marine Hall are proudly the main information centre for this weekend event and the Information Desk will be open from Thursday 30 August at 4pm and then between 9.30am – 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Marine Hall are pleased to welcome the festival back hosting free music and events in The Wyre Bar which will be open from 4pm on Thursday and everyday throughout the weekend. The Wyre Bar proudly will serve for the first time in many years Real Ale specially brewed for the Festival by Blackpool’s West Coast Rock Brewery.

The venues include Main Stage – Marine Hall, Acoustic Stage – The Mount, Fringe Events – North Euston, Victoria Bar and Wyre Lounge (Marine Hall) for live music (Free Entry). Sessions – The Bug will host Musicians’ Sessions all weekend with the return of The Irish Session on Saturday afternoon. Singarounds – There are a number of these over the weekend including the new free Singing Breakfast in the Waterfront Cafe (Marine Hall) breakfast will be provided by Fleetwood Health Kitchen and evening food and suppers will be available in the evenings Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday from 4pm – 10pm from The Griddle Girls. Workshops – There are various guitar and whistle workshops at £2 per person.

This year Fleetwood nearly lost the festival due to the late withdrawal of Strawberry Gardens, The Steamer and Bowling Club. They are hugely proud to be supported by Wyre Theatres and Wyre Council this year.

Rachael Bailey, the organiser of the Fleetwood Folk and Blues Festival, comments: “We are hoping that visitors and local people will support the Official Venues who continue to support and contribute to Fleetwood Folk and Blues Weekend, without them we wouldn’t have the festival. It’s been a difficult year, personally and the festival takes all year round planning and dedication, so let the town continue to benefit from this by getting out there and having a good time.”

Fleetwood has always been a musical town with tales of the sea right through to still having many live bands performing regularly. For 42 years Fleetwood was the home of Fylde Folk Festival until Alan Bell retired in 2014. A wonderful and dedicated team continue the tradition with a difference, to encourage a younger audience, and nurture a cross-generational love and appreciation of all styles of Folk and Blues.

For more information go to www.fleetwoodfolkandblues.com