Confessional Takeover: A night at The Crypt at Blackburn Cathedral
Johnny James, Managing Editor
One of our favourite grassroots festivals, Confessional has long been a highlight of Blackburn’s arts and cultural calendar, turning the Lancashire town into a lightning rod for live music lovers every September since 2015.
One of the things we love about this festival is that each year, the passionate team switch up the formula, whether it’s the ever changing theme (2023’s being Urban Junkyard), or the venue (last year’s was hosted in one of East Lancashire’s most historic buildings, The Exchange).
True to form, Confessional looks different again this year, billed instead as a Confessional Takeover. It’s a smaller, stripped-back event designed to be affordable for all, with tickets priced at just £10. But while the fanfare’s been dialled back just slightly, the team haven’t compromised at all on the venue, which is the crypt of Blackburn Cathedral – a stunning and historic building in the heart of Blackburn Town Centre.
Headlining will be Merseyside rockers The Dream Machine. Influenced by iconic psych-rock songwriters such as Patti Smith and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, they blend smooth vocal harmonies with tantalisingly hypnotic Americana grooves. Support comes from Leeds’ Fake Dennis, bringing a fusion of abrasive electronic beats and raw punk energy.
From the hotly-tipped Hungry, you can expect more punk energy as well as jangling indie smarts, while Darwen-based Pretty Shivers combine power pop, rock and roll, country and soul. Finally El Grego, a key member of the Demented Disco collective, will keep you dancing non-stop – before, between, and after the bands.
Being a smaller affair than usual, there are only 200 tickets available for this Confessional event, so don’t hang fire for too long if you’d like to go. It’s only a tenner, after all.
