A NEW festival has been hailed as a success after bringing live music to Skipton.
Skipton Live took place across the town over two days at the end of August, and featured performances from established and emerging artists.
The festival was organised by a volunteer committee and designed to support artists while adding a new cultural event to the town’s calendar.
Mike Burtoft, festival director, said: "When we started planning Skipton Live, we had an idea and a lot of enthusiasm, but until you actually open the doors on that first day, you don’t know quite how people will respond.
"Seeing musicians performing, audiences discovering artists they may never have heard before and people moving around Skipton enjoying live music made all the work worthwhile.
"We learned a great deal from our first year, as every new event does, but the message we’ve heard repeatedly since the weekend is that people want us to do it again.
"That’s perhaps the best measure of success we could have hoped for."
The event was well-received by audiences, musicians, residents and visitors, and the positive response from sponsors and partners has given organisers the confidence to begin planning a second Skipton Live in 2027.
The committee extended special thanks to the musicians who supported the festival in its first year, many of whom backed the idea before plans had fully taken shape.
They also acknowledged the vital contributions of sponsors, venues, partners and volunteers.
Mr Burtoft said: "Our sponsors took a chance on a completely new event, and their backing enabled us to turn an idea into reality.
"Their response following the festival has been particularly important because building those relationships will be essential if Skipton Live is to develop and become sustainable.
"The same is true of our musicians and volunteers.
"Skipton Live simply couldn’t have happened without the goodwill, energy and enthusiasm of a great many people."
Organisers are now finalising festival accounts and carrying out a full review of the event.
Committee members will reconvene in early October to begin discussions around potential dates and plans for the next festival in 2027.
There are also plans for a pre-launch event and musicians’ networking evening early next year, which aims to bring together performers and others in the local music scene.
Meg Roe, artist director, said: "Year One was about proving that the idea could work.
"Now we have the opportunity to learn from it, build on what worked well and make Skipton Live even stronger.
"To every musician who performed, every sponsor who backed us, every volunteer who gave their time and every person who bought a ticket, came through the doors or supported the festival in some way – thank you.
"This was only the first chapter.
"Stay tuned – pun very much intended."
Skipton Live was created to celebrate grassroots and original music while supporting the wider night-time economy by encouraging movement across venues throughout the town.
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