MUSIC in the park was on offer at Barrow in 1993 as the town's biggest public open space offered an afternoon of entertainment for National Music Day.

The Mail, on Tuesday, June 29, noted: "Off licences had their shelves cleared and ice cream vans had their freezers emptied by around 600 people who turned up to watch two great bands and frazzle in the afternoon sun.

"The Musicians' Union had chipped in with £100 towards running costs and Barrow Council had waived the insurance premium which meant the event wouldn't have to be scrapped."

The music was provided by Jellyhead and Thursday's Child and the bands were introduced by master of ceremonies Dave Wrennall.

The event was organised by Furness Live Music to mark National Music Day.

Lin Corkhill, from Furness Live Music, said: "It's good for the younger kids who can't get into clubs like Eddysons to see the bands — and for young families who can't get babysitters."

Before the first free park events had been held a couple of years earlier, organisers asked residents if they would mind an afternoon of rock music and were surprised at the support they received.

She said: "They told me about spending summer afternoons in Barrow Park and they remembered bands playing all the time.

If you had gone to the major music festival at Glastonbury in 1993 you would have needed £60 for a ticket.

In August 1997 Furness Live Music moved into a new era with the launch of a website which could be used by South Cumbrian bands.

The site was set up by Northampton-based Number Ten Design and Web – which was owned by Barrow’s Ivytech, run by Noel Matthews. He said: “I have always been interested in the local music scene as I used to play in a band myself.”

The firm’s senior designer Leigh Dickinson also came up with a logo featuring the letters FLM which was felt to resemble a bullet shape being projected by sound waves.