Over 3,000 people came together to dance late into night to a series of great acts at the first ever Pitch Up Festival in Barrow.
Barrow AFC’s Dunes Hotel Stadium resounded to music from acts including Bad Boy Chiller Crew and upcoming local singer Wallis on Saturday.
In total 3,500 tickets were sold for the event, with a proportion of the profits going to St Mary’s Hospice, in Ulverston.
The event was the brainchild of Barrow-born friends and business partners Joe Jackson, James Howden and James Bonner, who formed company Pitch Up Events – which organised the festival – 12 months ago.
The trio began by organising a fan zone to show the Euro 2020 football cup at Holker Old Boys football club, complete with big screen, live music and food vendors. Since then they have also hosted Halloween and Oktoberfest events in Barrow and are focused on creating more events to bring the local community together.
“We wanted to create a festival that people can really enjoy, which will show off all the local talent we have in Barrow, as well as inviting local food and drink vendors and creating an atmosphere where everyone can just get together and have a good time,” said James Howden.
“It’s really important to us that Barrow has a good range of events like this, which give people something different to enjoy throughout the year. It’s been great to see people getting together to relax, enjoy a drink and have a good dance to some great music.”
Barrow-born Wallis, who is now based in London, was one of the acts to entertain the crowds.
Wallis performs original songs with influences from trap and grime with soulful vocals.
She said: “I’m Barrow through and through and so it’s great to be back here performing on my home turf.
“All my family and friends still live here and so I’m really passionate about making this kind of event a success. This is also my festival debut and so I’m really excited. Massive kudos to Pitch Up for making it happen.”
Wallis joined the line-up alongside acts including Bad Boy Chiller Crew, from Bradford, who are known for their high energy sets, and Kendal’s LOWES, voted BBC Radio 1’s Dance Vocalist of 2021. There were also performances by The Silver Bars, from Barrow, and town favourites Mad 4 It, one of the best Oasis tribute acts in the UK.
Friends, Francesca Watt, Steph Cargan, Mary Murphy and Kirsty Beach, from Barrow, had come to enjoy the music.
“It’s really nice to be here to support a local event and listen to some live music and just have a good time,” said Francesca.
“It’s great to be here enjoying ourselves at an outdoor festival vibe with other people, it just feels like we’re getting back to normal.”
