Festival organisers hope for 'another 10 years'

A festival showcasing emerging artists is marking its 10th year.

Twisterella first took place in Middlesbrough in 2014 and has hosted the likes of Sam Fender and The Snuts over the years.

Organisers said putting on a multi-venue event in the town was not easy, but the enthusiasm of audiences kept them going.

"We're really proud and really excited, and hopefully we can get another 10 years out of Twisterella," co-founder Henry Carden said.

"I think the town really needs it and needs live music."

The event is taking place in and around Teesside University Students' Union and Middlesbrough Town Hall, with the line-up including The Howl & The Hum, Martha, Norwegian band Pom Poko and Italian/Punjabi sister rock duo Baby Said.

According to the Association of Independent Festivals' (AIF), 192 UK festivals have disappeared since 2019, with more than 60 announcing a "postponement, cancellation or complete closure" in 2024.

Mr Carden, 40, said venue closures in Middlesbrough were among the challenges faced by the festival, but "willingness from audiences" and the fact he and co-founder Andy Carr were "quite stubborn" kept Twisterella going.

The event, which won the AIF's Independent Festival Award in 2019, has seen ticket sales go up this year, although not yet back to pre-pandemic levels.

"It's not easy putting on a multi-venue festival in Middlesbrough, but we feel, as people who live and work in the town, the town needs it and we want there to be more music there," Mr Carden said.

Knowing there were people who wanted to come and discover their "new favourite band" made it worthwhile, he added.

"People in Middlesbrough have always been quite forward-thinking and like discovering new music."

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