Councillor organises Queensbury event

The festival, in March, is being billed as Queensbury’s biggest-ever event, and could happen every year.

Tory Councillor Walls, who also plays the harmonica and whose guitarist son Gary’s band has been on ITV’s Heartbeat, secured £10,000 funding from Bradford South Area Panel to get the idea off the ground.

The cash has helped book top Yorkshire folk acts, who are all set to take Queensbury’s Victoria Hall by storm.

Saturday, March 7, has been set aside for big names – such as award-winning British folk artist John Tams and Coope Boyes & Simpson, Tom Bliss & Tom Napper, Pat Sherry & Stuart Douglas, The Gerry McNeice Band, Skyhook, Crucible and Roger Davies – and the Sunday will be given over to home-grown talent.

Coun Walls and his volunteers want to hear from any musicians keen to appear on Sunday’s Local Heroes stage.

“Of course we’ll have to do auditions but we’re ready and waiting to hear from people in, around and out of Bradford who want to get heard,” he said.

“There’s no doubt this is going to be the biggest event that’s ever happened in the village and we want it to be the first of many if we can pull the first off and make some profit from it to plough into the next.

“We’ve got top-rate performers already lined up and tickets are incredibly cheap for the weekend, from about £20.”

Coun Walls said the event would boost village pubs and shops. A local farm has offered to open its campsite early for the hardier festival-goers. “The offer’s there if anyone wants to take it up even though March might still be a bit chilly,” said Coun Walls.

“It’s going to be great for Queensbury and really put us on the map and that can only be good news.”

As well as performances, sing-round and music sessions, a number of workshops are also being planned.

To find out more about auditions or how to get tickets, e-mail mikeharmonica@googlemail.com or call Coun Walls on (01274) 427050.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@telegraphandargus.co.uk