How a Canadian band heralded a yearly treat

Aug 9 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE 33rd Alnwick International Music Festival finishes today and Flashback is taking a look back at the history of the event.

Over the years the festival has attracted acts from all over the world, as well as being a showcase for Northumbrian culture.

Hundreds of music lovers from all over the globe descend on the town for the week of music and dancing.

The festival has hosted a music festival since 1976, when the Alnwick Lions Club organised the first event.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, and now attracts an estimated 20,000 visitors each year. It has become the largest independent music festival in the UK and the area’s premier music event.

Among the nations to have sent dancers and musicians to the festival are Mexico, the US, Italy, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Estonia, the Isle of Man, Bulgaria and South Korea.

The idea for the festival came when the then president of Alnwick Lions Club, Adrian Ions, was offered the chance of the Whalley Legion Junior Band from British Columbia, Canada, playing in the town.

A concert evening at the White Swan Hotel was arranged, as well as a number of displays throughout the town, and the Alnwick International Music Festival was born.

The following year, the Whalley Band returned on a four-day visit and were joined by other groups such as Chinese Lion Dancers from Newcastle’s Chinatown.

But sometimes the enthusiasm of the dancers can get a little out of hand.

In 2004 bad weather forced a Ukranian Cossack display indoors at the Northumberland Hall.

Dawn McMullen, who owned a wool shop under the venue, could only watch as her ceiling caved in.

And in 2002 controversy shrouded the event as organisers of were forced to scrap visits by musicians from Senegal and Armenia because of red tape.

A Bulgarian dance troupe had to halve its numbers because of a lack of visas while a Moscow-based group also encountered problems. But despite the occasional drama the festival continues to go from strength to strength.