Responding to an appeal to help save the Mellor Brook and District Community Centre from closure in 2004, local recording studio manager Seamus Heffernan decided to stage a one-off concert to help raise funds for its dilapidated building. He and his partner Janet Aspin booked 3 touring Australian musicians to perform a concert there.
Guitarist-singer Derrin Nauendorf with drummer David Downing had impressed “Sham” and Janet at the Brampton Live festival – would they appeal to mates who they resolved would make up the venue’s audience? Few, if any of the 100 who turned up on the night of Friday 25 June 2004 had heard of the duo or their support act, fellow Aussie singer song-writer Rory Ellis. Most had come to support a worthy cause, some out of curiosity and others to savour the vaunted Bushy’s ale shipped over from the Isle of Man.
Twelve years later, Manchester quartet 4-Square became the 100th live show managed by the team now branded Shamrock Promotions. By now, the Mellor Brook Community Centre boasted a new atrium with underfloor heating and regular use by various activity and interest groups.
The quest to bring quality folk and root-based musicians to the county led the team to venues in Darwen, Clitheroe, Chorley and Samlesbury. The acts were sourced from increasingly further afield: Bulgaria, Senegal, Cuba, the USA. In 2017, BBC Radio Lancashire came to Mellor Brook to make a recording of Hark, Hark – A Winter’s Light performed by Narthen which was broadcast on Christmas Eve.
Lancashire’s Rural Touring network, Spot On has partnered with Shamrock Promotions both as an agent for a wide variety of acts – many from overseas, and as an underwriter for a one-off show which brought Senegalese singer Daby Balde and his 5-piece band to the Centre in 2007. With backing from Arts Council England, Spot On’s remit is to facilitate professional performing arts in village halls and other community spaces. Mellor Brook has enjoyed theatre, comedy, ballet, opera and puppetry courtesy of this network. On 15 November, The Alison Lupton Trio from Ontario will become the 29th act brought to this corner of the Ribble Valley through this collaboration.
East Lancashire is lucky to have these entrepreneurial spirits dedicated to bringing top class musicianship to the area. They also take care to enhance the musical experience offering a licensed bar (Sham holds a Personal Licence (a mandatory qualification and document in England and Wales that authorises an individual to sell or supervise the sale of alcohol from a licensed premises) and regularly stocking a selection of fine wines and a draught ale.
Up-coming shows here
