From the Kirkgate Youth Theatre’s performance on Thursday afternoon, July 3, through to the town’s 50-strong community orchestra playing at Christ Church on Sunday night, there were record attendances all over – with many traders also reporting big boosts to sales.
Performances ranged from classical to jazz, rock to brass, folk to electric, comedians to poets, street theatre to dance, and from groups to solo performers. From further afield, Guinean N’famady Kouyate and the nine piece Stax of Soul brought different sounds to the town, one of the objectives of the festival.
The Cockermouth Mechanics at the castle (Image: Tom Kay) Over 50 shopkeepers each took a musical instrument in their windows to help publicise the festival – and to create a children’s quiz trail.
Joe Murray from the Cockermouth and District Chamber of Trade said: “We’ve heard from businesses that footfall was up, spend was up and lots of happy people were around the town.
“I can safely say I enjoyed myself around the town centre venues both days, with the Shanty Lads being a personal favourite.”
Three new venues came on board including the reopened Jennings Brewery. Managing director Chris France said: “I was delighted that Cockermouth Live! coincided with Jennings’ opening weekend.
Drum Nation (Image: Tom Kay) “We were absolutely packed across all three days but there was an amazing vibe that ran throughout the whole event, no matter whether it was an eclectic country act or hard rock.
“We definitely want to be part of it again next year.”
Cockermouth Live! is a standalone charity run purely by volunteers. Tom Speight, chair of the Cockermouth Live!, said: “We are so pleased that the people of Cockermouth and beyond had such a great weekend.
“There are enormous challenges in organising what is a largely free event for thousands to enjoy.
Stax of Soul (Image: Tom Kay) “And we are very proud of how it all turned out, with massive support from townspeople for which we are grateful. We want to make a festival for local performers to enjoy as well as local audiences.
“It looks like we did just that.”
Photos of the weekend can be found at cockermouthfestival.org.
