LANCASTER is set to be dominated by music once again as the organisers of the popular Lancaster Music Festival set about preparing for this year’s event.

Having started as a three day event showcasing music in 18 pubs and clubs back in 2009 attracting an estimated 4,000 festivalgoers the festival has grown to a five day event between October 12 and 16, incorporating Lancaster’s own Unofficial Bank Holiday Monday.

Last year over four hundred acts played at more than forty venues attracting over 70,000 festivalgoers and generating an additional £2m to the local economy.

Festival Coordinator Ben Ruth said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from local, national and international acts to play at this year’s festival.

“With two weeks to go before applications close we’ve received over five hundred requests to play the Festival”.

The festival is no longer confined to clubs and pubs (though there’s plenty of those including two that will be open 24 hours for five days).

2017 will see the third year of collaboration between the festival and the Duchy of Lancaster to provide a main stage within the grounds of Lancaster Castle.

On offer will be beer from two local breweries, a musical heritage bus linking up the more far flung venues, musical barge flotillas on the canal, and four coffee shops and two national banks are expected to join in the fray.

In addition, Williamson Park and many of the public squares in Lancaster will again be transformed into music venues.

Outdoor Events Director, Lucy Reynolds says: “It’s great to bring live music to those who are not able to visit licensed venues and we put a particular emphasis on attracting families and young people to our events.”

Unlike many regional festivals, Lancaster Music Festival receives no local or national public funding.

Instead it relies on donations from sources such as Lancaster Business Improvement (BID), venue sign up fees, merchandise and brochure sales, main stage entry fee (still £1) and sponsorship from local businesses.