Music Journalism student Sylvie Devaney reflects on music festival ‘Highest Point’s’ newest initiative to help raise money for charity in respects of late music lover Chris Glaba.
Brand new music festival ‘Highest Point’ is hitting the North West this spring, and will see £1 from every ticket sale donated to Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Chris Glaba, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2016.
Booked to take place at Williamson Park, Lancaster from 18-20 May 2018, the festival will see the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, Hacienda Classical and Sasha take to its stages. It will also feature cocktail bars and craft beers, street food, silent disco’s, live art and walking theatre performers.
As well as donating money to Macmillan, organisers will be naming a stage after their Skiddle colleague Chris who was a big music lover.
In a statement on the festival’s website, the organisers talk about paying tribute to Chris.
“In December 2016 we lost our dearly loved friend and colleague Christopher Glaba to Cancer. Chris was an integral part of all the events we brought to Lancaster, and it is only fitting that we remember him in the best way we can, through his eclectic taste in music. That’s why our second stage will be forever remembered as The Chris Glaba Memorial Stage.
“As well as The Chris Glaba Memorial Stage, one pound of every ticket will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support, who’s love and support they made available to Chris in the final twelve months of his life can never be repaid.”
A target was set by Chris’ colleagues to raise £100k for Macmillan, which they managed to achieve through putting on various charity events and fundraisers during 2016 and 2017. Reaching their target hasn’t stopped them though and their fundraising continues with Highest Point.
The memorial stage line-up has been put together by BBC Introducing, and will be showcasing some of the hottest new talent emerging from the North West.
Jamie Scahill, director of Highest Point Festival, says “It’s a huge privilege to have BBC Introducing curating the Chris Glaba Memorial Stage, the line up is an amazing cross-section of talent that is coming from the area. We are passionate about showcasing the best new music that is on offer from the North West music scene.”
The stage will feature performances from North West guitar pop trio The Hara, Lancashire band Lowes, electro-driven 10 piece dance and hip-hop collective The Moods, Preston rockers Building Giants, 14 year old James Jackson, and many more.
Sean McGinty of Radio Lancashire and BBC Introducing has lead the curation of the line up for the memorial stage, and feels the festival is a great opportunity for fresh artists.
“I’ve been presenting a new music programme for nearly fifteen years, ten of those with BBC Introducing. I see one of my main roles is to provide opportunities for artists to develop, whether it’s being played on the radio, an interview or a live session. The icing on the doughnut though is to be able to offer an humongous opportunity like playing the BBC Introducing stage at Highest Point.”
Tickets for the event start at £40 and are on sale from Skiddle or Highest Point’s website.
By Sylvie Devaney
Feature image by Thomas Tots via Flickr
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