Leyland Live set to entertain you again

At least it will be on Friday and Saturday night, when the ever-popular Leyland Live entertainment festival makes a much-anticipated comeback.

Pubs, cafés, shops, church halls and youth centres will welcome performers from all types of musical backgrounds between 7pm and 11pm this weekend, from jazz, country, acoustic and rock acts, to choirs, barbershop harmony singers and even a flute group.

What’s more, there will also be a variety of daytime entertainment on Saturday and Sunday at various venues in the town, such as Punch and Judy shows, book readings, craft workshops and musical instrument taster sessions.

Singers will also fill the high street with music throughout the daytime, as they will set up outside Peppermint Cottage on Hough Lane to perform to crowds and shoppers.

Organiser Nigel Stewart said: “The venues are all really excited that Leyland Live is back, and we’ve got loads of great acts on board.

“There is a really wide variety from choirs to heavy metal and everything in between, such as blues, folk, pop and a brass band.

“We have a lot of local singer-songwriters as well, so it’s really worth people going along to see the local talent.

“It’s going to be fantastic.”

The South Ribble Concert Band, the Worldwise Samba Drummers and the Chorley Gleemen Barbershop harmony group are all new to this year’s line-up, with plenty of crowd favourites also returning to the festival.

Open-mic sessions are also on the agenda.

Wristbands cost £5 and gain people entry into all of the venues, and allow them to take part in all of the activities planned from Friday to Sunday.

Leyland Leisure Centre is even hosting to some special fitness classes which only wristband-holders can attend, and a vintage fair with classic cars, live music and retro stalls is being staged at the British Commercial Vehicle Museum.

Wristbands are available from all of the participating businesses, as well as South Ribble Council’s Civic Centre offices in West Paddock.

Money collected from the wristbands at the Civic Centre will be donated to the British Commercial Vehicle Museum, which will open its doors for the vintage fair after being closed throughout the winter season.