Tiny Steps charity announce Northwich live music festival

Scott Burstow has been involved in organising events for Northwich-based charity Tiny Steps for several years and the latest one announced is a double header, boasting appearances from legendary music scene figures such as Bez from Happy Mondays, The Charlatans' Martin Blunt and Clint Boon, of Inspiral Carpets fame.

"I fell in to doing events about four years ago," Scott explained.

"I started off by doing one or two events a year and then I got into a bit of groove about how to do it.

"These nights have always been good, we've had great acts in the past and the tickets normally fly out.

"But at the moment, people aren't necessarily committing to stuff in the way they might have done in the past."

Scott is hoping the combination of the line-up of Tiny-Fest, which will take place at the ever-popular bar and live music venue, The Salty Dog on Saturday June 19, and the hope that many will have been vaccinated against Covid-19,

will encourage people to look ahead with optimism.

He said: "You'd like to think by Easter all elderly and vulnerable people who need this vaccine will have had it by then.

"At that point, you'd think the government have got to draw a line in the sand and say, 'let's crack on'.

"You can't rely and wait on the whole country getting the vaccine.

"I'm hoping by the summer everything will be back to normal and we can all get back to enjoying live music together."

The line up at The Salty Dog includes Liverpool-based The Tea Street Band, Argh kid, Davos and Phil O'Driscoll, with Martin Blunt playing the role of DJ between each set, before the action moves across to the Memorial Court, where Bez and Clint Boon will help festival goers rave into the night.

"In the past I've been really lucky with the support I've had, for example Clint Boon has always been great and we've had Shed Seven supporting us in the past as well," Scott added.

"I've always wanted to get the Tea Street Band on board and when I asked them they came straight back to me, so I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

"It would be great for people to do both events and make a full day of it.

"I've always wanted to do some kind of mini-festival but with working full-time and doing this as a volunteer these events are such a great place to start.

"It's two fold for Tiny Steps as it not only raises lots of exposure for the important work they do, but it also brings in some much needed funds."

Scott became involved in Tiny Steps when his best friend and wife struggled to find suitable play activities in Northwich for their oldest daughter, who was born with additional needs.

He said: "The charity was born on the back of their own circumstances really.

"They wanted to build up a bit of a community of families who needed that additional resource and support.

"I got on the back of it and said I'd fundraise for them and I'm on the committee now.

"What they've done in the area is build this community spirit which means whenever people decide to do something in the local area, they think, 'I'll do it for Tiny Steps'.

"I also DJ at Salty Dog and I love what the venue is about.

"It's something Northwich hasn't got anywhere else, which is an area that hosts live music, so it's almost like I'm doing my bit to help them to.

"I've really missed DJ-ing there and I'm really looking forward to getting events back on there."

Tickets for both events can be purchased online at www.wegottickets.com/tinysteps.