Jake Bugg goes to Barrow for first Coast Roads in new site

The festival brought Jake Bugg, K-Klass, Ibiza in Symphony and Jackmaster to Barrow, alongside local artists such as The Native Cult, The Silver Bars, The Gears and John Rennie.

Coast Roads featured a dance tent and two outdoor stages (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

Organiser Malcolm Lingard said: "We decided what we wanted to do was bring local festival experiences to the people of Barrow in a setting which is absolutely gorgeous." 

The main stage was at the back of the festival space (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

The festival packed three stages, food stalls and a teepee wellbeing area around the bandstand section of the park between the café and the foot of the hill leading to the cenotaph. 

The totem pole was made by a local artist, the organisers said (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

The event, taking place over the weekend (July 27-28) expected 2,500 visitors each day.

Malcolm said  there had been a 'huge amount of money' invested by Coast Roads Studio to make it a community festival.

The wellbeing centre and the St Mary's Hospice stall (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

"We're not making it for profit, everything we're making goes back into the next festival," Malcolm said. 

The outside of the dance tent (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

On Saturday afternoon, there were hundreds of people in the festival grounds with a steady stream of people filing in.

Tania Greenfield with her son Dean Weindling, drummer for Taken by Tuesday (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

Dotted around the grounds were pieces of art that Malcolm said had been made by locals. Many gathered on the steps near the bandstand, named the 'Local Stage.' 

Tania Greenfield was sat with her son Dean Weindling, who plays drums in Taken by Tuesday and was waiting for his slot. 

Sam Charnley talked about the ticket prices compared to seeing gigs outside of Barrow (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

Tania said: "I think this is absolutely fantastic and it should happen more often." "I think they've done a fantastic job, given the circumstances and a bit of the backlash that I've heard about," Dean added.

Westmorland and Furness Council granted a premises licence on June 21 for the festival despite the application raising objections from local residents. 

Sam Hall (left) and Gary Westwood (right) called the festival 'accessible' and 'family friendly' (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

Sam Charnley, also playing on the stage, commented on the tickets - costing £45 for one day and £80 for the weekend, saying: "Jake Bugg tomorrow - you'd be paying £50 to go and see him - and then you'd have to pay for your hotel, you'd have to travel two hours away pay for the train fare - so it's nice to have something in Barrow." 

Paul Rennie got a spot in front of the main stage (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

Gary Westwood and Sam Hall called the festival 'accessible' and 'family friendly.'

Gary said: "We've got a beautiful park - people seem to forget, especially on a day like this it looks fantastic."

Despite rain in the morning, the sun was shining and the weather was warm by the time the proceedings kicked off. 

Ryan Kirkham praised the crowd (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

At the main stage, Paul Rennie said: "We've only just arrived but I've got to admit it looks really well organised obviously the weather's fantastic. Gumshoe is the act that's just been on and I hadn't heard him before but he's come across really well." 

Ryan Kirkham said: "It's been brilliant so far - it's a good crowd singing along and dancing."