A SPECTACULAR annual live music festival saw Bury town centre become “one big smile” despite a drizzly bank holiday Monday.

Glaston-Bury saw crowds flock to watch 140 acts perform in 13 locations on 15 stages as the extravaganza took over Bury for the sixth year running.

The festival, which has raised around £75,000 for Bury Hospice since its inception in 2008, saw more acts perform than ever before.

Cash is still being counted but the event looks set to have raised £15,000 for the hospice, beating last year’s £14,000 total.

Organiser Chris Buckley, who is a DJ at Blind Tiger in the town centre, said the event was a phenomenal success.

He said: “Glaston-Bury was cracking, Bury was one big smile. Every audience member I saw or spoke to was on the same wavelength. Everyone was having an amazing time and loving the music.

“We had bands and audiences come from outside Bury and they said it was fantastic.

“Everyone comes together at Glaston-Bury and this year with people knowing about Bury Hospice’s funding issues they were more keen to support it than ever.

“At the end of the day, there are patients in Bury Hospice who need our help.” The initial Glaston-Bury, which was held at the Blind Tiger, saw £1,200 donated to the hospice and the amount has grown ever since.

"With the festival run by around 35 volunteers and all bands and artists performing for free, every penny of the proceeds is given to the hospice.

For the first time, Glaston-Bury featured an outdoor stage in Castle Street headlined by the Steve Ferringo Band, a popular draw.

Also enticing the revellers were seminal Manchester Factory Records bands Crispy Ambulance, A Certain Ratio and Section 25 who symbolically returned to The Met Theatre, a stage they last played when the building was Derby Hall.

Crispy Ambulance’s lead singer Alan Hempsall appeared on stage with Joy Division at the Hall in April, 1980, to stand in for Ian Curtis, with the gig famously leading to a riot.

Other stages were located in Blind Tiger, Wyldes, Two Tubs, Pics Bar, The Art Picture House, Monkey House, Bar 101, Brambles, Molloy’s, Joqux O'th Rock and Pizza Pioneer.

Chris added: “Having more stages and more bands meant Glaston-Bury was hectic and crazy to organise, and nothing on that scale can go without a hiccup.

“It was a painstaking task but when we were there and saw the smiles and everyone doing it for Bury Hospice it made it all worthwhile. Even in the evening when the weather was at its worst, the outdoor stage was packed out.

“I would like to thank the acts who gave their time for free, our volunteers who helped on the day and everyone who came down and enjoyed themselves.”

  • To make a donation to Glaston-Bury, go here.