THE new organisers of the Middlewich Folk and Boat (FAB) festival are urging residents to get behind this year’s event and help ‘put it on the map’.

Claire Armstrong and Helen Ireland have taken on the running of the town’s three-day music and canal festival – taking place between June 16 and 18 this year.

The annual FAB festival has been running since 1990 and in 2011, Middlewich Town Council took over the ownership and funding  – but last year the event suffered losses of £84,000.

Now, the new organisers are taking the festival 'back to the community’, with a line-up of local and upcoming artists announced.

The first night of the FAB festival is 80s night, with Middlewich locals Cry Havoc opening the event.

The night will also include a Pet Shop Boys tribute, Electromanticsm and UK Bjorn – performing the greatest hits of ABBA.

Saturday daytime will include Sam Lyon, The Moulton Crows, The Old Firm, Kids Dance 2 The Beat, and Middlewich Judo Club, while Saturday night is family night, with performances from Danny Addison, Just Above Snakes, Little Chix, and Muddy Elephant.

Sunday will see Electric Swing Circus, Sandbach Rock Choir, Seamus OG, Leon Hollingsworth, Brass Monkees, and Maine take to the stage.

Claire said: “With us taking it over, we’ve had to start the festival with no money, so rather than be chasing big names and headliners, we wanted to give local and upcoming acts a chance; people that aren’t well-known.

“But if you like music, you’re coming out to actually enjoy the music, not worrying about how well-known someone is.”

Organisers have worked hard to ensure folk stays at the heart of the festival, so folk artists will perform across the town throughout the event, as a free part of the festival.

“We really want it to continue next year, it would be such a shame for the town to lose this festival,” Claire added.

“The businesses need it, the town needs it, it’s the one big event the town has, other than the Christmas lights switch on.

“We’re taking it back to the community; for us, it’s all about community and getting people involved.

“We want to put the festival on the map.

“With tickets sales so far, it looks really promising.

“Just come out, listen to music, make new friends, or catch up with old friends.”

And organisers say they have exciting plans in store to expand the festival in the future, which are being kept under wraps for now.

Claire explained: “I think the Middlewich residents will be quite pleased about the plans we have, and the festival will shift in a new direction."