Steve Guest

  After much hard work, many hours and no doubt a few headaches along the way, Blackpool Music Festival organiser Jon Bamborough and his team, including Salford Music Festival maestro Ed Blaney, have now completed the full line up for the inaugural Blackpool Music Festival, with all venues also now confirmed. And what a very impressive array of musical wonderment there is, featuring the very best live acts from around the area and a little beyond. You could say that Jon, Ed and their marvelously hard working team of volunteers, have pulled a rabbit out of the hat and delivered a…

As promised, we can now bring you further news of confirmed venues and artists appearing at this years Blackpool Music Festival. Staged over four amazing  live music filled nights, beginning on Thursday 10 October through to Sunday the 13th, it promises to be an eclectic extravaganza of the area's finest and most talented musicians. This festival will showcase new upcoming bands as well as the more established entertainers, giving everyone the opportunity to catch some brilliant free music and fringe events. We here at altblackpool will have the whole nine yards covered and our team will be bringing you the…

Northern Irish indie band Two Door Cinema Club last night confirmed they will be performing live at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, on Thursday 12 December Obviously the reputation as a brilliant rock venue persuaded the popular band to name the date as part of only two so far confirmed UK appearances on their current tour, along with the O2 Arena in London. After a string of concerts in the U.S and the Far East, they head to the Fylde Coast where it is certain that tickets will sell out very fast. As veterans of many festival stages, including Glastonbury,…

There is no rest for the wicked, as they say. Just as the Salford Music Festival has this weekend come to a hugely successful end, Blackpool Music Festival guru and co-ordinator, Jon Bamborough, is busy at work yet again putting together the bands and soloists line up for what should be a very exciting and groundbreaking festival of the area's best live music. Kicking off on Thursday October 10, across various venues around town and lasting throughout the weekend, it will be a musical paradise for those who love and appreciate the cream of the very best live acts in…

Up to 100 bands and soloists are being lined up to perform at a host of venues in the first ever Blackpool Music Festival next month. The not-for-profit event is seen as the launching pad for an annual festival which it is hoped will attract thousands of people to the Fylde coast. Blackpool Music Festival is the culmination of two years' planning by Jon Bamborough and Brian Reddington, two keen live music fans who were inspired by the growing success of the Salford Music Festival (which is currently running) . The enthusiasm of the Salford organisers, Ed Blaney and Paul…

It's a great pity that events like this are not held more frequently throughout the year. Because Eaglefest represents everything that is brilliant about local music. The team thrives on giving a showcase to the fantastic musical talent that is coming through and at the same time raises much needed funds to help out the kids at Brian House. Eaglefest 2013 organisers Ian Fletcher and David Walsh can afford themselves a huge pat on the back for putting together what was yet another remarkable festival day of music and family entertainment. They will probably say that the credit has to…

One thing very close to my heart is giving young, local upcoming bands and artists the chance to perform live. So I was both privileged and honoured to speak to a soldier of local youth music, Ian Fletcher, founder and co-organiser of Eaglefest. This is an annual summer music event held at The Golden Eagle in Anchorsholme, which gives the stage over to young bands and other more established artists for a day long festival. Along with his team, all of whom are volunteers, Ian has, for the third year running, managed to put together a fantastic line up of…

Claire has recently been speaking to and photographing some "very cool" people who are helping to promote local, young bands. These bands are under age so cannot play pubs, but, according to Claire, they are more than good enough to be showcased and heard. She says, "There is a lot to be said for whipper-snappers who are under 18, but can play guitars, drums or sing live this well and to an audience! Wasn’t it Oscar Wilde that once said, ‘youth is wasted on the young’, well, not where Eaglefest is concerned”. Claire caught up with Ian, one of the…