It’s always nice to support some of the smaller up and coming festivals celebrating homegrown americana – just like beers, micro is sometimes better! – and so following on from the success of the first of the Sunday Sessions in Chorley earlier this year, the first Americana DC Festival has been announced for 10th August 2025 which will take place at Traders Taphouse, on Hollinshead Street, Chorley (PR7 1EP). The doors open at 12 noon with live music downstairs and (weather permitting) outside with performances from Chorley’s Kevin Heald along with Doug Livesey, Manuka Twins, Smith Parker and Paddy Johnson. The music continues upstairs from 6pm, featuring Chorley trio The Bitter Lake, Graham Thompson, Hellfire Preachers, 5 piece Mountain Ash (pictured) and Grain Electric’s Stuart Warbuton ending the live music at 11pm.
One of the festival organisers John Winstanley told us: ““I was hit between the ears in late 1998 when I listened to “Sounds of the New West” CD issued with the September issue of Uncut magazine. I discovered a diverse range of musicians and sounds I was energised by this genre referred to as Americana. Those appearing at the festival represent the same impact each has had on me some 27 years later!” Tickets are £15 and on sale now including an option to pre order a festival program. The festival has a fully licensed all day bar, hot food on site and a clothing boutique, makeup artist and record store, so there’s a chance you may come home in a nudie-suit with vinyl tucked under your arm and your face painted like a lion.
Head over to https://www.ticketebo.co.uk/devel-creatives/the-district-of-chorley-dc-americana-festival for tickets.
