Mirfield festival to hit the right notes

The festival, organised by the people behind Heckmondwike’s Crown of Lights show, will open with a choir from Castle Hall Academy, before a 10-hour extravaganza featuring 16 bands in Mirfield Showgrounds.

Acts such as Twist of Fate, Roger Davies and The Blind Dead McJones Band will play the festival which will boast two stages of music over 10 hours.

As well as live music on two stages there will be facepainting, a fairground, donkey rides and a free circus with acrobatic activities.

Organiser Donal O’Driscoll said: “I am really looking forward to the festival – it should be a great day.”

One of the bands Donal is particularly excited about is The Little Big Band – a 17-piece swing outfit that will be headlining the festival.

Donal added: “I try to get as many different styles of music I can at my festivals.

“I’ve done 11 music festivals in Heckmondwike but this is the first time I’ve been able to get hold of a big swing band for one!”

Last week, the festival was granted a four-day licence to serve alcohol on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from the Kirklees licensing panel.

Mr O’Driscoll said the licence would give the festival the opportunity to expand over the bank holiday weekend in coming years if the first event is a success.

Mirfield Music Festival will run from 11am-9pm on Saturday May 25 in Mirfield Showgrounds off Huddersfield Road.

Adult tickets for the day are currently £8, and £4 for under-18s.

Tickets are can be ordered from the website at www.mfest.biz.