Darwen Live 2021

Who's On & Where

Main Stage - Saturday

Main Stage - Sunday

Library Theatre - Saturday

Library Theatre - Sunday

The Bank Bar & Kitchen

Bridge Street Club

The Bridgewater

Cin Cin

The Cock

The Crown

Level One L1ve

Number 39 Hopstar Brewery Tap

Sunbird Records

Taps Bar

The Vault

About Darwen Live

Darwen Live is a free-to-attend annual music festival held in the picturesque Lancashire mill-town of Darwen, on the West Pennine Moors.

The event is organised and run by volunteers and funded by Darwen Town Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, and private sponsors.

Darwen Live is a community event and we thrive on your input and ideas. Anybody who would like to lend some time or suggestions to support the event can contact us below.

For the first time since the event started in 2000, Darwen Live was cancelled due to the ongoing public health restrictions imposed in March 2020.

However, we could not be happier that Darwen Live 2021 WILL take place, now on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October 2021. We can't wait to be with you all again and to enjoy some fabulous music in our brilliant town.

There's "A Big Day in the North" on the horizon. We'll see you there soon.

Darren, Paul, Benn, all the Darwen Live contributors.

12:00pm Echoes of the Beast
Waking up the event with a loud bang we have an Iron Maiden tribute band, bringing a live show not to be missed.

1.00pm Polarized Eyes
Punk teen trio Polarized Eyes are Noah, Amber and Harry. Polarized Eyes gained national airplay with their first release, Storm, on Tom Robinson's BBC Introducing mixtape.

1:45pm Bastette
A Powerhouse Rock // Pop act hailing from Blackburn, fronted by Caroline Eve Kenyon. Bastette deliver modern alternative Rock and draw inspiration from the likes of Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless. Caroline has a powerful vocal reminiscent of Florence and The Machine and delivers her music with swagger and panache.

2:30pm English Outback
Four-piece Alternative Rock Band from Darwen founded in 2012. A fully original performance blending high energy guitars and subtle emotion to create an awesome live experience.

3:15pm The Armadillos
Americana roots Good Time music. Great for any event. The Armadillos played at the first ever Darwen Live so we are really pleased to welcome them back for our 21st Birthday.

4:00pm NGUVU
Combined with a well-rounded style that blends (but doesn’t limit itself to) Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, Afro-beats, Jazz, and many others, NGUVU are the band to watch out for in the very near future.

5:00pm Georgia & The Vintage Youth
The sound is fresh – with immediate youthful appeal, yet echoes the vocal rawness of Janis Joplin, the energy of Marc Bolan and a nod to the wonderful tones of Amy Winehouse.

6:00pm Forever Tenors
A totally unique and fresh approach to the classical world - fusing a range of musical styles from pop, rock and classical, combined with breath-taking vocals and their own musical arrangements.

7:00pm Millie Manders and the Shut up
After a storming performance in 2018 we are bringing Millie and the guys back for another go!
MMATSU bring fierce and addictive ska punk with emotive and urgent lyrics; tipped as the UK’s answer to The Interrupters with high octane live shows and attitude backed with morality …” VIVE LE ROCK

8:00pm The Illicits
The Illicits from Blackburn, Lancashire are a 4 piece Rock Band and are signed to Alan McGee’s Creation 23 Label. Their electric live shows have been given accreditation up and down the country and earned them major support slots with Liam Gallagher, Primal Scream , DMA's, The Zutons and Miles Kane.

9:00pm Shaun Ryder's Black Grape
After the Happy Mondays, Shaun Ryder needed a new project and together with Kermit Leveridge formed Black Grape. 2021 sees a celebration of 25 years since their debut album, "It’s Great When You’re Straight, Yeah", which features such hits as Kelly’s Heroes, Reverend Black Grape, and In the Name of the Father. Their musical style fuses funk and electronic rock with electronic programming and samples. Expect the usual humour and occasional (!) swear word from Shaun. Probably not suitable for young ears!!

1:00pm Darwen School of Music
Showcasing the young talent and range of performers from Darwen School of Music. Spot the stars of tomorrow.

2.00pm Good Foxy
Trying to pin down Good Foxy’s influences is a challenge; their music takes inspiration from classic artists such as Cream, The Beatles and The Doors whilst also sounding current alongside artists…Tame Impala, White Denim, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Kurt Vile amongst many others.

2:45pm Cherrybomb
Cherrybomb are a four-piece party band who are very well known throughout the North-west and their home town right here in Darwen. Festival favourites and singalong greats.

3:30pm Sky Valley Mistress
Again no stranger to our stage here, SVM since last performing have signed a record deal and sold out the original pressing of their album. This is how their record label describes them: Sky Valley Mistress are 4 young upstarts from Blackburn, Lancashire, full of spit and vinegar who have delivered a ferocious, two fingered hello to rest of the world with their debut album 'Faithless Rituals'.

4:15pm Outsider
Well known and well respected Darwen band who have recently reformed which is great for us! Featuring writing partners Daniel Reid & Grez Slater.

5:00pm Jeramiah Ferrari
Axl Rose once said “Gimme some reggae” – so that’s what we’re giving you. Full of energy and fun, expect new material and old favourites.

6:00pm Ultra 90's
These guys played Darwen Live in 2019 bringing a selection of 90s dance tunes with them. Expect to hear club favourites and get those hands up in the air!

7:00pm Grace Davies
Grace played Darwen Live in some capacity pretty much every year performing at smaller venues until she got her big break in 2017 by finishing as runner up on the X-Factor. Her audition video has now been watched over 21 million times. She says she cannot wait to play locally again after her main stage performance in 2018 – recording new material as we speak.

8:00pm Hoosiers
We are pleased to welcome the multi-platinum selling Hoosiers. Their 2007 debut album, The Trick to Life featured singles such as Worried About Ray and Goodbye Mr. A. Four albums later they're now taking their Greatest Hits on the road.

1:00pm Darwen School of Music
Showcasing the young talent and range of performers from Darwen School of Music. Spot the stars of tomorrow

3:15pm The Flying Starts
A seven-piece R'n'B/Soul/Blues band with female vocals. From Betty Wright to Beyonce, and Irma Thomas to Adele

4:30pm Mudwhistle
Featuring members of The Silk Bison Band and Catalina Wine Mixer, Mudwhistle are a five-piece rock covers band. With songs from Tina Turner to Black Sabbath and nothing in between

5:45pm The Lavelles
An up-and-coming new young Indie band from Darwen, playing a mixture of original material & indie covers

7:00pm Wagon Wheels
Well respected and experienced six-piece group featuring all local musicians. With a folk thread driven by swirling electric guitars, four-part harmonies and electronic samples, Wagon Wheels nights are always memorable. A really fabulous way to bring day one of Darwen Live 2021 at DLT to a close

2:45pm Jacob Reddy

4:00pm Lucy Mayhew

5:15pm George Murphy

6:30pm Miles Berry

1:00pm P.R. Music Tuition
P.R. Music Tuition is a highly successful Darwen-based music school with students of all ages, shapes and sizes! This Showcase marks their return to the stage following lockdown. A variety of students will present their latest musical creations for you

3:15pm The Monkeymen
A vastly experienced group of musicians, The Monkeymen play a crazy mix of music from Elvis to The Proclaimers, Chuck Berry to the Kings of Leon. Swing, Rock n Roll, 70s Glam, Country Rock, Foot stomping sing-alongs, Ballads, whatever... A rare local outing for this in-demand group

4:30pm The Rafters
The Rafters have not been resting on their laurels during lockdown, using their time wisely to write and release a 3 track EP, and 3 singles. Fresh vibrant Rock and Roll/Post Punk. "I’m going to say it now and I know it’s early in the year, but these lads are our best discovery of 2021... can’t wait to get to one of their gigs, it’s just going to go off, utter chaos and madness, and that’s what rock and roll is all about” - Snake Oil Music News

5:45pm The Switch
Super busy five-piece indie rock band, performing a variety of modern covers mixed in with their own brand of original music. The Switch will entertain a family crowd with covers from Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Stereophonics, The Killers, Viola Beach, Jamie T, Catfish & The Bottlemen plus many more… all with a unique musical twist

7:00pm Blowjangles
One of the most unique and celebrated musical enterprises in the region. Blowjangles play a mixture of Ska, Reggae, a bit of 60’s stuff but generally big and bouncy tunes that you can dance and singalong to. A perfect way to end our DLT programme for Darwen Live 2021

2:45pm Rachel Toner

4:00pm Lloyd James Fay

5:15pm James Ashcroft

6:30pm Fundada