THE first-ever Rock The Fells arts and music festival arrives today and it looks set to be the Western Lake District's biggest live event of the summer.

A family-friendly one-day programme of live acts and entertainment will take place on the "Big Flat Field" at Bootle Village Hall, from 11am until 11pm.

Some of the region's best up-and-coming bands feature in the line-up alongside a whole host of activities for all ages, and refreshments aplenty.

The good news is that even the unpredictable Cumbrian weather can't put a dampener on things - all of the action, the stages, children’s activities, cafe, tea rooms, and bar are all under cover.

Rock The Fells is a charitable event and in 2016 will be donating all profits generated to the local campaign Fighting Fitz. In 2015, mother of two Danielle Fitzsimons was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33-years-old. She has pledged to complete a year of fundraising during her fight with the disease and Rock The Fells has pledged to raise money for Cancer Research UK with her.

So simply by attending you are helping to raise funds for a very worthy cause and doing a very good deed.

Putting the "rock" in Rock The Fells

Rock The Fells has a packed line-up of bands across two stages. The acoustic stage will see singer-songwriters of all different styles and there is a stunning array of young and established bands on the main stage – enough to satisfy even the most demanding muso.

Pete Mills, head teacher at Captain Shaw’s CE School and one of the chief organisers, says: "We actually think we’ve got headliner bands in every slot throughout the day, the bands are that good, but we do have three official headliners – The Chadelics, Deatbeats and Wasted Saints.
Drum band Deatbeats

"In these three bands you are seeing not just the best talent in Cumbria, but the best in the country right now, bands at the top of their game without a doubt. Each are critically-acclaimed and each have a style all their own.

"The Chadelics are Bootle’s own answer to the Beatles and have an ever-growing following that could out-scream their Liverpudlian counterparts. The Chadelics are our daytime headliners on at 4pm. The evening will have a double-headliner with Deatbeats’ rhythm spectacular followed by Wasted Saints’ metal and funk rock masterpieces signing off our first year in style."

Other acts set to appear include: Orinoco, Mr Shave, Fumar Mata, It's Pronounced Legend, Boo to a Goose, Holborn Hill Junior Brass Band, Captain Shaw's Brass Ensemble, Seafoam Green, Chloe Pinney, Lady & The Tramp, and Rob Kavanagh, as well as a host of special guests.

Fun for young festival-goers

One of the big draws is the huge children's programme throughout the day. Led by Bootle’s own Captain Shaw’s CE School, children and young people have seven hours of activities from lunchtime to early evening, and a chance to perform in the main event – the Big Bootle Bonanza - something much bigger festivals would be very envious of.


Captain Shaw's head teacher Pete Mills Pete says: "We've got some really high quality things going on from unique professional partners from Cumbria.

"Children will get to experience an amazing range of creative workshops – be part of a British Sign Language choir, join a junk percussion band, make theatre style costume masks, choreograph and perform new dance routines with professionals, learn to play ukulele and write songs, do drama activities and do explosive science experiments. For young people it is all about getting hands on, performing and taking part, and for us at Rock The Fells it is all about inspiring young people to get creative and giving them a platform to show off their skills and talents.

"And being on the first day of the summer break it is the best way to celebrate breaking up for the school holidays!”

Who's bringing the food and drink?

On site there will be a full bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments. Foxfield Brewery has brewed a special craft beer – a 4.2 per cent blonde ale – which will be served as long as the limited stock lasts.
Rock The Fells beer will be served

The Byre Cafe will be doing a summer barbeque, The Captain’s Table will be running a tea rooms for hot drinks, cakes and scones, and the Black Cock Pub from Broughton will be treating everyone to some international street food.

There will also be a few speciality stalls and fun things including an old school classic coconut shy.

How to get there

Cars:

If you are traveling by car then you need to head straight to the Wellbank Project, in Church Lane, Millom, LA19 5TB – this is strictly where all car parking will happen for the event. Signs will guide the way on the roads from the north and south, but stick "Wellbank Project, LA19 5TB" in your sat nav.


If you are a disabled blue badge older or less mobile and need access then please email rockthefells@gmail.com and special on-site parking can be arranged.

Trains:

If you catch the 10.10am train from Barrow to Bootle Station, you will arrive in time for the doors of the festival opening. The last train south to Barrow is 7.26pm.

The 9.28am train from Carlisle (10.48am from Whitehaven) lands just before lunch and the last train home is a little earlier at 6.20pm, but still allows plenty of time for children to do all activities on the day.

Festival essentials

Bring cash because there are no card machines or payments on site.

Bring a torch for walking back to the car with if you are staying late.

All camping is at Wellbank Project, LA19 5TB. Make sure to book in advance for caravans, campervans and tents.

If you’ve bought in advance make sure you bring your ticket confirmations.

And obviously wellies are a huge must, not just for soggy ground underfoot but because they are essential festival chic.

Opening times, tickets and availability

The festival will open at 11am and close at 11pm, and there are a limited number of tickets available for the event.

Tickets will be available on the door from 11am. Tickets are £10 and free for under 16s when attending with an adult with a full priced ticket.

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