No more Milnrow Calling: popular music festival comes to end after 3 years

Milnrow Calling

This year’s Milnrow Calling Festival will be the last, its organisers have announced.

The family-friendly music festival has taken place at Milnrow Cricket Club since 2021, but will not be going ahead next year.

Organisers What’s Occurin’ Rochdale? – which also run the popular Little Glastonboro festival amongst many other local events – made the announcement on Thursday 14 September.

The last event took place on 2 September featuring up-and-coming artists, top tribute acts, local bands and community groups from the likes of Ellie Sax, Eltonesque, Manchester Ska Foundation, Shenanigans, and Funktion and Co., plus children’s entertainment from Britain's Got Talent’s Steve Royle, The Greatest Showman duo, bouncy castles, and face painting and festival glitter.

The What’s Occurin’ Rochdale? team said in a statement: “Whilst we were hoping to secure a date for next year and grow the festival bigger and better, the committee at Milnrow Cricket Club have decided they no longer wish to hold the event.

“Although disappointed, we respect their decision. Whilst we have debated relocating the festival, there just isn’t an alternative venue within Milnrow that would make this feasible, therefore we feel it best that it comes to a natural end.

“We continue to explore other venues for other events we have in the pipeline. We know that this decision will come with mixed emotions for you all, but it is unfortunately beyond our control. From its modest beginnings to this year, Milnrow Calling has exceeded our own expectations of what we set out to achieve.

“We’d like to put on record our thanks to all the staff and volunteers at the cricket club as well as our loyal vendors and suppliers who have helped over the years making it the success it was. We appreciate all the hard work that was put in by all.

“And finally, to all those that came and supported the festival we thank you. We are honoured to have had your loyalty and dedication over the three years, and we are very proud and humbled to have been able to organise and present to you all this community event.

“Don’t be sad that Milnrow Calling is over; please just be happy that it actually happened.”

Milnrow Cricket Club was contacted for comment.