Morecambe Music Festival Live Lounge smashes £5k fundraising target with minutes to spare

Morecambe Music Festival Live Lounge hit its £5,000 fundraising target with minutes to spare.
Stuart Michaels. Picture by Mike JacksonStuart Michaels. Picture by Mike Jackson
Stuart Michaels. Picture by Mike Jackson

The Live Lounge started on Facebook 10 weeks ago just as lockdown began with the aim of providing entertainment to people in their homes and also to raise money for two local charities, Team Reece and St John’s Hospice, as well as Morecambe Music Festival.

There have been 250-300 acts and an audience from over 90 different countries including Spain, USA, Australia and Germany.

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Organiser Stuart Michaels said: “It was quite exciting really as 11am on the last day we had £4,100 and by 2pm we had £4,200 so I thought, ‘we’re not going to make this’ and by 9.30pm we were still £200 short but with a last minute donation we shot to the target amount.

“I’m going to give both charities £1,500 and the rest will go towards Morecambe Music Festival.

“The first target was £2,000 but as the donations went up we thought we might as well set another target.

“We’ve had some amazing artists from the local area and around the world who have performed every night for entertainment and to help us all through this difficult time.

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“We’ve raised a huge amount for both charities and we couldn’t be prouder!

“On Super Saturday this weekend May 23 the event is all for Team Reece as every event they had organised they have had to cancel, so we’ve set up a new gofund me page for that.

“Super Saturday will run from 1pm-3am the following day and there will be performers such as Dani Wallace, DJ Adam Mixy Wilde, Andy Cruxton and myself, with DJ Matt Thiss from 10pm until 3am.

“The plan was to do the Live Lounge for as long as lockdown lasts but good ideas only last for so long so we decided to go out while we are still on top, whilst the viewers are still strong.

“We are still on 16,000 members.

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“High points have been being able to give people a platform to showcase their skills, providing people with different entertainment, with that much variety from tribute acts to solo singers.

“The biggest thing is being able to help and raise awareness for the two charities and Morecambe Music Festival.

“I’d just like to give a huge thanks to Jay Blackburn, Matt Thiss and Craig Smart for heping me run it and also my fiancee Gemma Phillips who personally replied to every donation.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who donated and posted lovely comments.

“It’s another pure example of the people of Lancaster and Morecambe being nothing short of magnificent.”

A decision on whether Morecambe Music Festival goes ahead this year will be made in June.