12/10/2026
Well, WHAT a week !!!
A massive THANK-YOU from everyone here!
This was the sixth Barrow Music Week and it was by far the BEST!
It was so brilliant to see people of all ages come together for fantastic music experiences.
We opened with INFINITE - a major light and sound installation at Barrow Town Hall and it was so good to see how you all interacted with it. From babes in arms gasping in wonder, to us older folk sitting back and reclining on the sofas!
At one stage an artist from Mahogany Opera danced with the orbs and rolled around on the tile floor underneath it - adding a new dimension to âgrassrootsâ art.
The Town Hall - The Forum theatre Barrow on Tour - provided a fab backdrop to Barrow Music Week activity - from opera to alt-rock-metal to brass music.
It was surreal to see a bath on stage on Wednesday for opera and two nights later the same room witnessed teenagers in a joyous mosh-pit for two local bands and headliner PAVĂ
Everything was well-attended and a credit to the people of this wonderful town for coming out - some of you ambitiously trying something new.
Thanks for your curiosity and belief in the power of music.
Further events included concerts by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, packed band nights at Barrow Underground Music Society, silent discos The Dock Museum, music masterclasses NWMA - North West Music Academy plus primary and secondary school events for pupils and teachers Royal Ballet And Opera.
On Saturday the town centre was alive with creativity at The Bridge which staged a sound+science+engineering music day. Other venues such as Coffee D'Ash, Townhouse 211, The Meeting Place, Holiday Inn Express, all had a packed programme of music.
The Brass Fest also went down a storm!
A special mention to Italian songwriter Marco Cinelli who came to our rescue when our original artist pulled out through illness. Marco - drove from London to Barrow to play an intimate and awesome set at North West Music Academy.
You were all still grooving on Sunday with packed gigs at BUMS featuring top young talent and The Sea House Music Venue staging an afternoon of raw talent and storytelling.
What a phenomenal week!
Barrow Music Week gets bigger and better each year. This was certainly our most successful in terms of the packed programme and numbers of people attending.
Barrow Music Week is a real team effort. We want to thank every single artist, all the brilliant venues and the people of this fine town for turning out and supporting.
Cheers to our fab steering committee who challenge us as well as providing insight and ideas from a young Barrow perspective. Thanks to our small team and volunteers too who just grabbed the week and got stuck in.
Barrow Music Week is supported by BAE Systems, Arts Council England, Westmorland and Furness Council, Barrow Town Council, Barrow Bid, BarrowFull, Cumbria Music Hub, Barrow Rising.
We have already started planning for next year. And Barrow Music Commission - a collection of organisations championing music in the town - will have lots going on in 2027 and beyond.
In breaking news we can tell you that Barrow Music Week will take place 6-10 October 2027 - so get this date in your diaries!
We learned a few things this weekend and will strive to make it even better in 2027.
Any businesses or organisations wanting to be part of Barrow Music Week 2027 can email [email protected]
Thank-you ALL for your belief and support.
See you in 2027!
LESLEY and the team - Barrow Music Week.
PHOTOS: The majority of images below are by the brilliant Ian Allington Photography. BUMS images by Simon Hall, Outside street pics by Dickie. THANKS!
