Right to Roam music festival coming to Bolton this summer

Right to Roam Festival hits the town in July ­— with a headline act by acclaimed Bolton actor Maxine Peake.

Bands from the town and across the UK will perform as Bolton launches itself on festival scene ­— and re-establishes it reputation for live gigs.

It has been organised by Rock It Bolton CIC ­— which promotes the town's music scene ­— set up by a group of old schoolfriends including Matt and Joe Carr and Julie Ormes after meeting up at the Tramlines Festival in Sheffield.

They have teamed up with the Octagon Theatre, Market Place Centre and The Alma Pub, where live music will be performed.

Right to Roam is named after the Winter Hill Trespass of 1896.

Matt said: "It is a perfect name for a festival that aims to spread around Bolton, making best use of all talents and venues to create something unique that has a character that is typical of our town, and presents an opportunity for people who live in Bolton and beyond to come into town and roam around each venue, discovering all types of music and perhaps a venue they have never visited before."

James Holt

He added: "We are just trying to bring back the music scene people remember.

"If Ramsbottom and Warrington can have a music festival, we can have on in Bolton which has a lot of talented musicians.

"The acts read like a who’s who of bands and personalities associated with Bolton music and arts scene over the years.

"Established bands from all over the UK like the Saturday headliner Beans On Toast.

Beans on Toast playing

"The Friday headline act – The Eccentronic Research Council deserves special mention of which the third member needs no introduction, Maxine Peake who is returning to tread the boards at the theatre she has performed in, but for the first time as part of a band."

Festival fever to hit Bolton this summer again

Matt added: "The aim is to build on this year's festival and the future vision is to find more venues and hopefully an open air stage in the future somewhere in the town centre.

"Tramlines festival in Sheffield started as a multi venue city centre festival and every year the buzz around the city transforms it into a place for celebration, collaboration, and joy, something Right To Roam will work hard to do the same for in Bolton."

Octagon Chief Executive Roddy Gauld said: “The Octagon is really excited to be one of the partners on the Right to Roam festival. There’s a huge appetite for live music in Bolton, and as life emerges from lockdown, we know that people want to look forward to gigs and shows of all kinds. Right to Roam is just one of a number of events we’re involved in this summer to celebrate the Octagon’s re-opening, to support Bolton’s recovery from the pandemic, and to allow as many people as possible to safely enjoy live entertainment once again.”

The first wave of tickets for the festival on July 16 and 17 are on sale and ensure social distancing and more will be released if measures are lifted. For information visit https://www.righttoroambolton.com/