Rossendale’s getting a new festival this summer, and it sounds like is going to be mega. Gather@ is set to run across the valley from 26th to 28th June, with live music, workshops and community events popping up in places including Edenfield, Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Waterfoot and Stacksteads. A lot of it will be free too, which makes it even more accessible. There’s a strong local feel to it, but the line-up also brings in some brilliant names from further afield, including

I spent some time with Krissy at her studio recently, and it’s exactly what you’d hope a creative space in the Valley would be. She’s set up in a corner studio of an old mill - Park Mill in Helmshore - all high ceilings, white-painted walls, and massive windows that let the natural light pour in. But the real standout isn't the building; it’s the fact that every inch of the space is covered in her work. It’s a proper explosion of colour. During the visit, we talked about wher

The first Rawtenstall Beer Festival landed at the Masonic Hall recently, curated by Gary at Chuffin’ Ale and sponsored by Terminus Technologies. It was a day built on two things: top-tier Northern beer and a great atmosphere. The drink selection was handpicked, and it showed. We had some heavy hitters from across the North, including Bayonet, Brid’s Cross, Colbier, Silent Mill, State of Kind, and SteelFish. Whether you were after a craft beer or a cider from Grumpy John’s, th

The Let’s Talk Project CIC has secured 420 native saplings from the Woodland Trust to support a new community-led riverside planting project in Bacup, Lancashire. The Let's Talk Project CIC, which is based in Bacup, is a community interest company providing emotional support and listening services to adults and young people. It offers a non-judgmental, volunteer-led service for individuals to talk when struggling, aimed at preventing people from navigating tough times alone.