On the 21st of September 2024, Accrington hosted the highly successful iMEP Music Festival, marking a significant milestone for the town. The festival, held at Accrington Cricket Club, drew an enthusiastic crowd of 6,000 people who revelled in the vibrant sense of community, outstanding vibes, and stellar performances by a lineup of exceptionally talented artists. The audience was treated to electrifying sets by Cian Ducrot, The Kairos, Kimberly Wyatt of the Pussycat Dolls, Robyn Regan, Maurice Mallone, Cassie Mochan, and the incomparable Grammy-award-winning superstar, Jess Glynne.
Maurice Mallone kicked off the event by taking the stage right when the doors opened at 6 pm. Attendees with VIP and early-access tickets had the privilege of seeing him perform cover songs such as “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. There was also a special guest appearance by Cassie Mochan, and the duo performed Oasis‘ “Don’t Look Back In Anger.”
The next performer to take the stage was the incredibly talented Robyn Regan, a 29-year-old pop sensation renowned for her high-energy dance performances. Having performed at esteemed venues such as Her Majesty’s Theater, The Barbican, and The London Palladium, Robyn’s energy on stage was nothing short of impressive. Her seamless blend of dance-pop hits, including chart-toppers by Megan Trainor and Britney Spears, kept the audience buzzing with excitement.
Next on stage were the incredible Liverpudlian quartet, The Kairos. Their performance was an explosive showcase of screaming guitars and distortion, bursting onto the scene with unmatched energy and musical talent. Their songs have an anthemic quality, perfect for a stadium setting, and their instrumentals are intricately textured and lively, creating an electrifying atmosphere that extends from the stage to the audience. Their seamless performance set the stage for Kimberley Wyatt’s first DJ set, leaving a lasting impression with their nonstop adrenaline and alluring sound.
Kimberly Wyatt, the renowned pop icon and Grammy-nominated artist, delivered not just one, but two electrifying 30-minute DJ sets that had the entire audience on dancing. She played some of the biggest tracks from the Noughties, along with high-energy dance hits and, of course, The Pussycat Dolls‘ chart-topping singles. Nestled in between Kimberly’s sets, the incredibly talented Cian Ducrot took the stage to deliver a soul-stirring solo acoustic performance, showcasing a side of his artistry that fans rarely get to experience. As a gifted singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Cian charmed the crowd with the raw power and emotion in his voice, drawing the audience into his heartfelt performance. Among the attendees were three dedicated fans who had journeyed all the way from The Netherlands to show their support for Cian!
Just after 9 pm, Jess took the stage following Wyatt’s exit. The audience’s enthusiasm reached a crescendo during the third song of the night, “I’ll Be There,” her first chart-topping hit of the evening. This sparked a surge of people hoisting others onto their shoulders and singing along with passionate fervour. Her set was a treasure trove of hits and crowd-pleasers, offering a delightful array of dance numbers and poignant slower selections such as “Thursday“. “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself” exuded boundless energy, while “Right Here” injected a surge of vitality into the night. I really enjoyed the fact Jess chose not to have an encore, instead, she burst right into the household favourite Jet-2 banger “Hold My Hand“. The crowd’s dancing feet never ceased for the entire hour and 20 minutes of her performance, and there was an air of exuberance evident wherever you looked.
There were a few hiccups that night, but overall it was still a great time. There were some issues with the toilets being over one hour long and the bar queues seemed to be about the same. Despite that, we were spoiled for choice with the food from local small businesses like Finch Bakery and Mrs. Dowson’s Ice Cream!
I really hope that iMEP will continue to host more artists like Jess Glynne in our small Lancashire town. I believe this festival brought our community together and showed that there is still life in Accrington!
FOLLOW iMEP, JESS GLYNNE, CIAN DUCROT, KIMBERLY WYATT, THE KAIROS, ROBYN REGAN, MOZ MALLONE, CASSIE MOCHAN.
PHOTOS @MELISSASPHOTOGRAPHY10
Leave a Reply