Second-ever Right to Roam festival is a big hit in Bolton

After the roaring success of the first Right to Roam last year, the two-day music and arts festival returned last Friday and Saturday with acts performing across four Bolton venues; The Northern Monkey, Bar Four, The Alma Inn and the Octagon.

Spin Klass at the Northern Monkey

With hot sun and blue skies overhead Boltonians enjoyed the best of local talent and beyond with a cool drink in hand.

Over 70 acts played at the festival showcasing a wide variety of music, from choral song to heavy metal with headline acts including singer-songwriter Jane Weaver and Manchester indie-pop band, The Lottery Winners.

Fans watch rock band Luna Rose at the Alma Inn

Having made its debut during the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the event was thankfully not too harshly hit by the virus with only a couple of bands, the Yacht Club and GHUM having to pull out.

However, Bolton-based five-piece Clouds and Errors stepped-in for a second show on Saturday night at the Northern Monkey.

The stage at the Northern Monkey

On Saturday, organiser Ivan Crompton said the festival had been a great success with many of this year’s acts already putting themselves forward to for headline slots at the next festival. He hopes next year’s event will be even bigger and better.

The Swells

He said: The festival’s gone brilliantly, last night we sold out at the Octagon with the Lottery Winners and Will Varley which was amazing, we had lots of people dancing in the Octagon which was interesting to say the least.

“All the other venues are really, really busy as well, the vibe has been fantastic, all the bands, all the staff and it’s a volunteer led-festival so everyone’s doing it not for profit we’re just all doing it for the fun of it and for the love of it.

“The bands have been brilliant, we’ve unfortunately had a couple drop-out due to covid but there’s other bands who’ve jumped into their place.

“Its brilliant, the sun’s out and everyone’s having a brilliant time, all the feedback’s been ace and a lot of the band want to come back and do it again next year.”