The British Country Music Festival announce first artists on the bill (Sept 13-15, 2019)

COUNTRY AND AMERICANA MUSIC FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN BLACKPOOL

Bursting with Pride

Ward Thomas, Catherine McGrath and The Adelaides to

 illuminate The Country and Americana Music Festival

The British Country Music Festival proudly announce the first artists on the bill for 2019

Ward Thomas, Catherine McGrath and Sarah Darling will headline The British Country Music Festival, a new, annual event that will take place from the 13th to the 15th September 2019 at the Winter Gardens indoor entertainment complex in the centre of the UK’s number one seaside resort, Blackpool.

When: Fri 13 Sep 2019 - Sun 15 Sep 2019

Where: Blackpool Winter Gardens, Blackpool (97 Church Street FY1 1HL Blackpool)

Tickets available on Ticketmaster UK

Produced by festival and theatre show specialists Fit The Bill, in association with The Blackpool Entertainment Company, the event will be unique in focusing primarily on the best of British Country and Americana artists, promoting the wealth of talent in the UK that is now making Nashville sit up and take notice.

Gorgeous Trio The Adelaides to play The British Country Music Festival!
Click to ENLARGE

Support artists include Laura Oakes, Megan O’Neill, The Adelaides, Worry Dolls, Blair Dunlop, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Danny McMahon and Jake Morrell.

The festival will include performances on five stages in and around the Winter Gardens complex and it is anticipated that around 100 performers will participate in the event

over the long weekend.

Martin Blore, Executive Producer from Fit The Bill said: “This is a very exciting time for British Country and Americana music. This genre is synonymous with Nashville, but the Brits are breaking barriers, creating their own style of country music and attracting fans from all over the world. Our home-grown talent is also achieving mainstream

chart success and we felt it was a good time to create a festival that celebrates British Country and Americana artists.”

He added: “We also want to provide a public platform for talented, emerging artists whose music needs a wider audience and we will be inviting music industry colleagues to come and enjoy the Making Waves stages.”

The spectacular indoor setting of the Winter Gardens Blackpool enables music lovers to ditch the need for tents in favour of local accommodation providers, or the comfort of their own homes.

Empress Ballroom inside the Winter Gardens. Located in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK. Author Michael D Beck

Ticket holders will be encouraged to dress for the occasion and fly the flag for the best of British and being indoors provides the opportunity to be thigh high in sequins and stilettos as opposed to knee deep in mud with plastic wellies.

With neon and shining lights running as a sub theme, this is going to be the place to party as the traditional festival season nears its end. More artists will be announced in the coming months.

The festival will run from 4pm on Friday through to 6pm on Sunday afternoon. (Friday 4pm until 1am, Saturday 12 noon till 1am and Sunday 12 noon until 7pm).

Weekend tickets are now on sale for £75 per person. VIP packages are £110 per person and include a priority access wristband, souvenir lanyard, free programme and access to a private viewing area and meet and greet with some of the artists. Under 16’s tickets are priced at £35 per person and they must be accompanied by an adult.

Group rates are also available.

For tickets Tickets available on Ticketmaster UK

Or visit

www.britishcountrymusicfestival.com or www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk For news and updates follow @TBCMF on

CONNECT with The British Country Music Festival:

The British Country Music Festival: The Winter Gardens, Blackpool Sept 13 -15

A new festival promoting the best British artists of Country and Americana music will take place in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens 13-15 September 2019.

Over 100 Artists and DJ’s to be announced representing “the cream of todays contemporary British Country and Americana Music acts”.

An indoor festival with four stages held in three connecting iconic venues, including the iconic Empress Ballroom, Arena and Horseshoe.

Three dance floors including the world-famous sprung Empress Ballroom floor (as seen on Stictly Come Dancing).

When: Fri 13 Sep 2019 - Sun 15 Sep 2019

Where: Blackpool Winter Gardens, Blackpool (97 Church Street FY1 1HL Blackpool)

Weekend Ticket Early Bird Ticket £66.00 | Early Bird VIP Package £99.00 (Access to all stages and dance floors)

Tickets available on Ticketmaster UK

Produced by Fylde coast based, urban festival specialists Fit The Bill (Website; 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ.), in association with The Blackpool Entertainment Company, the festival will focus primarily on British Country and Americana artists to promote the wealth of talent in the UK and the impact they are having on the international music scene.

The festival will run from Friday through to Sunday afternoon. It is anticipated that around 100 performers will take place in the festival over the long weekend and the full line up will be announced later in 2019.

So who would you like to see at The @BritCountryMus1 in Blackpool @WGBpl this September? #wherethelightsareshining

— @BritishCountryMusicFest (@BritCountryMus1) 7 January 2019

According to the Association of Independent Festivals latest report, the average spend per head of today’s festival goer is £434.14 to include the ticket, accommodation, food and drink, merchandise and off-site spending. Based on this, it is anticipated that Blackpool will see a major economic benefit from the launch of The British Country Music Festival with thousands of visitors literally enjoying the bright lights and attractions in the town.

Marina Blore, Executive Producer from Fit The Bill said: “This is a very exciting time for

Marina Blore:  Executive Fit The Bill

British Country and Americana artists. Country music used to be synonymous with Nashville, but this is no longer the case as home-grown talent is now making its mark across the pond and attracting fans from all over the world. UK artists are being invited to play Nashville and they are also achieving chart success. We felt it was important to create a festival that promotes British Country and Americana artists and what better place for the party than in Blackpool during the illuminations!”

Michael Williams, managing director of Blackpool Entertainment Company and operators of the Winter Gardens, added: “The Winter Gardens has attracted some of the greatest music artists over the years from Ed Sheeran to The Shires and we’ve hosted events including the Blackpool Dance Championships and The International Soul Festival.

“With the addition of the new £25 million conference centre next year, it’s the perfect time for The British Country Music Festival to launch here and grow to include seminars and workshops.”

The festival will include music on various stages around the Winter Gardens (WEBSITE) complex including the Empress Ballroom and there will be dance workshops and demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Early Bird Tickets are on sale to include access to all the music stages from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon inclusive, priced at £66 per person.

VIP packages are also available now at £99 each and include a priority access wristband, souvenir lanyard, free programme and access to a private viewing area and meet and greet with a select number of artists.

Under 16’s tickets are priced at £35 per person and they must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets available on Ticketmaster UK

CONNECT with The British Country Music Festival:

About The Winter Gardens Blackpool

Blackpool’s Winter Gardens first opened to the public on 11 July 1878, with a lavish ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of London and Mayors and Mayoresses from 68 towns throughout the country.

 Empress Ballroom inside the Winter Gardens. Located in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK. Author Michael D Beck

The Winter Gardens has entertained hordes of crowds in Blackpool in its collection of theatres, ballrooms, exhibition halls and public spaces.

Since opening in 1878, the venue’s aspirations have continued to mirror the development of Blackpool as a friendly seaside resort and as the town grew in popularity throughout the century, the venue’s wide range of entertainment has developed with it.

One of the UK’s biggest theatres, the Winter Gardens Opera House, has seen a cast of thousands tread its boards since it first opened in 1939. With almost a 3,000-seat capacity, the splendour of the venue oozes sophistication and character as it boasts unforgettable performances year after year.

🌟 World-class dancers
🌟 Stunning production values
🌟 Exquisitely choreographed routines

Don’t miss Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals when the show arrives in #Blackpool this May!

🎟️: https://t.co/00d8bkHF2k#mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/q7zzW8Okzq

— Winter Gardens BPL (@WGBpl) 7 January 2019

Hollywood stars such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bob Hope have all graced the Opera House stage, and more recently, the likes of Little Mix, Bob Dylan, Peter Kay and One Direction have performed to sell-out audiences here.

The Empress Ballroom is one of the most popular venues within the Winter Gardens complex. It has been enjoyed by delegates at conferences and events of all shapes and sizes throughout the years.

The venue is perhaps most well known for regularly hosting the annual party conferences of the big three political parties in the UK, Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats, throughout the late 20th century.

With maximum capacity of 3000, the Empress is a very flexible space. Its layout can be arranged to suit the needs of any event. It has has 3 levels including two balconies and the main floor which is fully sprang.

CONNECT with The Winter Gardens Blackpool: