Milnrow & Newhey October 2021

Milnrow Calling marks a
More than 1000 turn out for Milnrow music event
August Bank Holiday 2021 will go down by many as the weekend they went back ‘out-out’ in
our village as the first Milnrow Calling festival took place. Over a thousand party goers were
treated to a variety of acts for all the family. I was honoured to be invited to act as the MC for
the day and got to introduce some great acts on two stages on the cricket ground.
Opening the proceedings were Milnrow Community Choir who are always looking for new
members and rehearse at 7.30pm every Monday evening at the Cricket Club, and they were
followed by the highly energetic Loud Elite Competition Team Dancers. Both performances
certainly set the scene for what was to come later in the afternoon and evening. Involving
these two community groups in this way was a wonderful way of giving the participants the
opportunity to show off their considerable talents and gain experience and it also encouraged
their families and the rest of the audience to stay all day!
It’s more usual to see Ellie Sax playing to crowds of partygoers on the beach at sunset
than during the afternoon in a Greater Manchester cricket club! Fortunately, the organisers
managed to secure Ellie and her high tempo sax solos over a DJ backing really got the crowd
going early doors.
There were two local bands performing at the festival, a Celtic Rock band called
The Scattering (check out that bass player!) and 80s covers band New Identity. Both are five
piece set ups and are made up of local lads, but their styles couldn’t be more different.
The Scattering play Irish, folk, and country songs usually with a straight 4 beat and high
tempo, decorated with accordion and fiddle solos on top of vocal harmonies. New Identity are
an extremely tight electric rock pop band with punching synth parts and vocal work and the
80s pop classics allow both the guitar and bass shine with some familiar lines and riffs. It was
brilliant to see local bands celebrated locally.
There was a real family feeling to the day with food stalls, face painting, ice creams
and sweets and there was also a generous helping of cuteness in
the shape of the Disney Duo from Merseyside who treated a young
audience to a medley of classics from “The Mouse.”
Tribute acts are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they are the staple of
small festivals like this, and they certainly work in bringing people
together. Stepping in to cover for a poorly Robbie Williams (tribute)
were the brilliant Runaway Killers, followed by The Courtbetweeners,
who are I’m reliably informed are the only Courteeners tribute act in
the country.
As the sun set, the whole event drew towards the main stage where
Freddie and the Queen experience were the perfect crowning act
to an extremely successful event.
Next year’s Milnrow Calling will take place on Sunday
3rd Sept 2022 and tickets can be purchased at
www.whatsoccurrinrochdale.co.uk/tickets
Andy Kelly
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