Oak Fest celebrate successful weekend in Hyndburn
Despite a rainy start, Oak Fest showcased a vibrant line up of live music.
Last updated 16th Aug 2023
Despite a rainy start, Oak Fest showcased a vibrant line up of live music starting with an enchanting opening by La Voix, followed by exuberant beats from Acid Brass.
The Desi Takeover, curated by Sam Malik, brought together a fusion of artists including Anamelia, HMD, Kami Kane, Danny H, Martha Pryer and Joash.
The festivities continued to unfold as crowd favourite, HENGE, landed on earth in the Old Bandstand with their out of this world performance that had the whole audience dancing along to their unique cosmic dross. As the evening rolled in, Danny H and Love scene set the stage for the headliners.
A festival highlight included the tepee tent silent disco which bounced from start to finish. Offering three playlists carefully selected to compliment the on stage artists, this became an immersive dance experience.
The community stall section played a significant role in raising awareness of local charities. It provided a platform for local organisations including Lancashire Women’s Centre, The Food Pantry, Prospects and Maundy Relief to showcase their initiatives, services, and products, fostering a sense of community engagement and support.
A variety of handmade items were on display from crafty business and Moon & Stars events brought the fun with their selfie booth on tour and free children’s colouring tepee tent which was a massive hit.
To make the festival accessible for all, a free return bus service was available throughout the day. The bus service ran from Accrington train station to the town centre and on to Oak Hill Park.
Lucy Dusgate, Head of Culture & Heritage at Hyndburn Borough Council said "We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response to the first ever Oak Fest. Despite rainy showers to start, Hyndburn turned out in full force to celebrate creativity, diversity and a shared passion for music, culture and community.
The positive response we have received post-event online is just fantastic - watch this space for further updates….”
Hyndburn received £500,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for projects, including Oak Fest, which deliver a new cultural and heritage programme for the borough. This package will be delivered by March 2025 and includes curated events, strategy compilation, consultancy and appointment of a Head of Culture and Heritage.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government's Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and places, supporting local business, and people and skills.