Fitz Fest 2
FITZ Fest 2 – Keswick’s charity fund raising music festival – gets underway on the evening of Saturday, September 19 at the town’s
The experience and quality of Obrigado and Water’s Edge are joined this year by another emerging local band, the raw, high on energy talent that is The Deadbeats. In addition, a fourth group, The Phil Lewthwaite Band, from Whitehaven, complement the three Keswick outfits.
All of the bands kindly provide their services free of charge and last year’s event was a fantastic success, raising a total of £4,000 for the charities involved, Breast Cancer Care and junior cricket development at Keswick CC, principal organisers of the event.
This year the action will happen in a big marquee on the park that is being erected for the Commonwealth Fell Running Championships that take place over that weekend. Obrigado now has a new line up in addition to the familiar faces of Ryan Shaw and Stu Sidney while Water’s Edge – who recently did extremely well in a national competition – are Lee Hawker, Andy Liles and Richard Burford.
The new kids on the block, The Deadbeats are made up of Neil Moran (base guitar) Luke Stanger (drums), Ritchie Hopper (lead guitar) Stuart Hardman (rhythmn guitar) and Tim Davies (vocals).
The Phil Lewthwaite Band, from Whitehaven, will be the first act on stage at Fitz Fest 2 and they are phil lewthwaite (vocals and acoustic guitar) Graham Bell (electric guitar) Andy Kelly (drums) and Gary Rushforth (bass guitar). The band formed earlier this year and are to appear as the headline act at an event at Whitehaven Civic Hall on October 2 to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance.
The joint beneficiaries from Fitz Fest 2 on Saturday, September 19 are the new play area project in Fitz Park and junior cricket development at KCC. It is the intention for funding to be set aside from this year to provide a foundation for Fitz Fest 3 next year when the event may be bigger and better.
Tickets for Fitz Fest 2 are available from two locations in Keswick, the reception desk at The Skiddaw Hotel, Kate Walker at Keswick launderette, Geordie’s shop on Windebrowe Avenue, Stu Sidney, Keith Richardson, and Graham Stephenson and, during matches this weekend, at Keswick Cricket Club.
Fitz Fest 2 will start at 7pm and finish at 11pm prompt to comply with licensing regulations. A barbecue and bar will be on the go for the duration of the event. Last year the inaugural Fitz Fest received a great deal of help from The Theatre by the Lake who are again involved in Fitz Fest 2, together with Ian Jones of Higher Sounds.