About the Festival

Gatley Music Festival is

Len Mather - Chairmen, Treasurer, Sponsorship and Organiser of classical / choral and Jazz events

Sylvia Clayton - Public Relations and Organiser of classical / choral events

Ian Ewing - Publicity, Performer and organiser of Folk / Acoustic events

Giles Parlett - Sound engineer, Recordings, Mixing and Organiser of comtempary events

Paul Turgoose - Webmaster only, Now retired from other festival commitments

Gatley Music Festival is a not-for-profit organisation bringing high quality live music to the village of Gatley in Cheshire, whilst raising money for local charities.

We present a week of live music every year in the month of March with something for every age and taste including classical, Jazz, brass, choral and the very best of local indie, acoustic and rock artists.

If you are coming to Gatley Music Festival you do NOT NEED to bring a tent, wellies, a portable toilet or a very thick rain coat as all our events are held in brick built buildings with roofs, Fully working toilet facilities, heating and in many cases bars (The licensed type not the iron ones).

All we ask is that you bring yourself, a smile and as many friends as you can lay you hands on.

In 1989 the Rev Brian Lee, curate of Saint James in Gatley, and Len Mather set up an organisation "Music at Saint James". Since then a series of seven concerts has been held every winter bringing musicians from a variety of symphony orchestras, jazz bands, brass bands, choirs and others to perform for a growing regular audience.

The sponsorship of Manchester Airport has been substantially responsible for the success of these concerts, a success that inspired the establishment in 2005 of a week long festival of music which was so well received that we now feel that we are entitled to talk about an annual music festival.

This year (2007) was the third Gatley Music Festival we enjoyed a week of live music from Friday March 2nd to Friday March 9th. Something for every age and taste including Classical, Jazz, Brass Band and Schools.

There was also a night of the best local indie / rock bands at the The Gateway pub, an acoustic evening in The Prince Of Wales and a traditional Irish night in the Horse and Farrier with an enthusiastic audience for all concerts.

The concerts took place in venues all over Gatley Including St James Church Hall, Kingsway School, Gatley Synagogue and Elm Road Church.

All proceeds of this fund raising event went to Francis House and we raised a £1,000 for the charity.

It was a fantastic week of live music and a big thank you goes out to everyone who contributed and help raise the money for a very worth-while cause.

You can see pictures of many of the events on the photo's page and hear live recordings of some events on the music page.

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  Festival sponsors