WARRINGTON Music Festival is back.

Since 2007, it has been a focal point of the town’s summer entertainment calendar (let’s not mention the year off), and with the 2016 event being hailed a big success, all eyes are on how the event will be even better this year.

One thing the organisers have always promised, is to offer the opportunity for Warrington and north west artists to play bigger stages than they may have access to otherwise.

This explained perfectly the decision to have Liverpool bands, Cast and Space co-headline the second night of the festival on Sunday, May 28.

They may not be the headliners to encourage young people to pick up a guitar, play some music and importantly have fun, with their heyday coming before many of them were born.

That said, they are the kind of bands who will bring people into Warrington who don’t normally go to other shows in the town.

It was a wise choice to make the tickets free.

Many artists have come and gone since the first festival and that is why on the Warrington Music [WAM] site (warringtonmusic.co.uk).

I have been looking through the archives and started to feature some of the artists that make up the history of the town’s music scene.

Every Thursday we will throwback to another band with Bill Davro and The 66 today being showcased.

If you can suggest anybody else, do get in touch.

Last Saturday I ventured to Friars Court for my first Warrington gig of 2017, and it was fantastic to see the venue rocking with Black Sonic Revolver and headliners, The Luka State impressing the crowd.

It was good to see the bar packed out and it can only mean more opportunities for artists to play the town. More please.

Homegrown folk punk band, Roughneck Riot have built a reputation as one of Europe’s finest live acts after relentlessly touring for the past few years and on February 24 they will perform at The Brewhouse in Buttermarket Street as part of the TNS Records tour.

Announced so far are two other punk bands which will be familiar to many in Warrington, Wonk Unit and Revenge of the Psychotronic Man.

In the spirit of the DIY scene, they won’t be announcing the running orders of the gigs until the night of the event, and encourage crowds to check out bands they may already love and those they may be less familiar with which is a nice touch.

Since my last column, Mo Adeniran has become one of the most famous singers from the town after appearing on The Voice, amassing more than 1.3 million views from his blind audition.

However this hasn’t gone to his head, as you will still find him behind the bar at The Lounge in Springfield Street, and if you’re there on a Thursday for the open mic night, you may be able to see some great talent perform live.

It is coming up to a year since we lost Viola Beach and their manager, Craig Tarry, five great individuals, who were only guilty of following their dreams.

A lot has changed since. Looking back on the past 12 months, I think they will be proud of those who stood up to be counted, and it is good to see how much of a legacy they are leaving behind in Warrington.

LEE HARMAN