PRESCOT Festival, now in its 21st year, welcomed over 700 people to its 1st 4 days, with award-winning Wingates Brass Band from Westhoughton receiving a rapturous reception for an opening night of summer brass classics, ending with Ravel's famous Bolero, in Prescot's majestic Grade I listed Parish Church. 

The 2nd night saw local professional vocalists Annamarie Newton and David Lee command the stage at Prescot Methodist Centre in an all-new full-length 'Night at the Musicals' show. The highly appreciative audience were suitably dazzled by an incredible variety of selections from great musicals such as Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Carousel, Oklahoma and Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. The entire programme was ably accompanied by the versatile Rose MacPherson on keyboard.

Day 3 saw literally thousands brave the weather at Prescot Carnival. Meanwhile, later that day the Festival saw a high turnout return to Prescot Parish Church for a special performance of J.S. Bach’s appropriately festive Cantata No. 137, complete with trumpets, timpani, organ, chorus, soloists, and an ensemble of strings and woodwind. Liverpool Bach Collective, now in their 11th year, were on fine form, and were directed by Philip Duffy – Master of Music at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral for 30 years, from its famous opening in 1967. This event concluded another very successful year for the ensemble, which tours Merseyside churches once a month in performances of Bach's Canatas as part of Choral Evensong.

The 4th day saw over 330 adults and children pack into the Parish Church for the 5th annual Primary Schools' Choir Festival. This free event showcased 5 local school choirs, each performing two songs, in performances that were full of youthful vitality and joy. Proud families, and teachers, cheered on as the event concluded with all of the choirs giving a massed 'community choir' performance of considerable energy. 

Festival Artistic Director Dr Robert Howard said:- “The opening weekend has seen a very high standard of music-making, as well as superb audience turnout for the Festival's 21st birthday and there is still plenty to come in the wealth of wonderfully varied performances we have remaining, whether that be from children or adults, from amateurs or professionals, or through music, drama, film or dance.”

The celebration of arts and music continues throughout the week, with more schools’ events, a film screening, a 1-act 1-woman play, a performance of operatic excerpts, and a barn dance. Two staged performances are being held at Prescot's Shakespeare North Playhouse. The festival culminates in a closing weekend featuring musical favourites Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats, a talk from local historian Ken Pye, a night of choral classics with the 100-strong Prescot Festival Chorus in Mozart's moving Requiem plus Hope Street Consort, and a special 25th anniversary Festival Finale concert with Phoenix Concert Orchestra in light, film and popular music, conducted by Festival Director Dr Robert Howard.

The 21st Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts runs until Sunday, 29 June 2025 in venues across the historic Lancashire town of Prescot, Merseyside. For event information, including ticket sales, visit their website.