THE second annual Hut-Fest in Flookburgh more than doubled its gate and its charity donation compared to its launch event last year, organisers revealed.

This year's festival was held on the field next to the village's Ravenstown Working Men's Club and raised £10,020, which is being shared by Rosemere Cancer Foundation, St Mary's Hospice and the British Heart Foundation. The charity trio was chosen by Ravenstown Club members. 

The festival bill was made up of nine musical sets that spanned from the afternoon into the evening and were enjoyed by an audience of more than 350 fans.

The line-up included singing dairy farmer Paul Morris, vocalist Jay Broome and bands Jim Bean, Off Limits, The Underdogs, Thieving Magpies, The Jetsons, Lukkie and PV77. All gave their talent and time for free or just expenses. There was also a raffle and auction with prizes gifted by local businesses.

Ravenstown Club, which provided the bar, donated all profits to the total raised. A new addition to the festival’s drinks menu for 2023 was cocktails served by Dub Cocktails.

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Organising committee member Danielle Lambeth said: “After the success of the first Hut-Fest, we were optimistic for this year but it exceeded all our expectations.

“It was overwhelming in terms of the amount of money raised for three very worthwhile charities and the way in which both local businesses and the community came out in support. In our first year, it took the audience from afternoon until the evening to really warm-up and start dancing but this year, people were up and dancing almost from the start, which created a great atmosphere for all the musicians and everyone there.”

The organising committee will shortly release the date of Hut-Fest 2024.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world-class cancer treatments and services to patients from South Cumbria and Lancashire. The patients are treated at the Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region's specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital. It also runs eight hospital cancer units across the two counties, including at the Westmorland and Furness General Hospitals.