Alison McLeod, Silverdale Renaissance
Silverdale Renaissance started with three friends and neighbours in the Lancashire village of Silverdale, all early music enthusiasts, bewailing the distances we had to travel to go to see the music we loved performed. It was 2023. We had been starved of live music during the pandemic and we were aware that many musicians had suffered too, being unable to perform for the best part of 2 years. A big idea formed. We would bring the music home, celebrating the end of Covid restrictions by booking a nationally known ensemble to perform in our local church. I was deeply sceptical: none of us had organised a concert before, we stood to lose a lot of money, why would a big name band want to come to an out of the way place like ours, how many people locally would be interested in such a niche event? All my objections were brushed aside on a wave of enthusiasm and we went ahead and contacted The Gesualdo Six, who contrary to my expectations were happy to agree a booking.
All my other objections were proved groundless too. That first concert was ‘a triumph’. We were overwhelmed by the response: the church was stuffed to bursting and we were turning people away at the door. Far from making a loss it generated a significant surplus. On a wave of euphoria, when pressed to put on more events we agreed. Silverdale Renaissance was born. Since then we have organised a further 5 early or baroque concerts, mostly vocal with some instrumental, and 2 singers’ workshops, settling into a pattern of 2 concerts and 1 workshop a year. We have booked both very well-known bands like I Fagiolini and less familiar ones, for example Ensemble Pro Victoria, In Echo, The Mancunium Consort, all of which proved to be excellent. Owain Park of The Gesualdo Six championed us from the start, agreeing to be our patron, advising and supporting our efforts. We have built up a team of volunteers, each offering a different contribution: from social media to front of house and car park marshalling, providing refreshments or hosting musicians overnight. And we are developing a loyal following who come to all our events: not just locals but from across the North-West, and even further afield. It has not all been plain sailing, however. The very first concert (and all the workshops), have been sell-outs, but almost every other event has made a loss.
Initially the organisers had to bear the cost of this themselves. We have had to learn fast how to apply for grant-funding! We ran a successful crowd-funding campaign, and were amazed by how generously our friends and supporters contributed. We have resisted going down the route of becoming a charity, not wanting to be burdened by the bureaucracy of committees and AGM’s and constitutions. This threw up the problem that we could not open a business bank account, and grants cannot be paid into a personal account. A small local charity threw us a life-line by agreeing to act as intermediary, accepting grant monies on our behalf and then transferring them to us. One of the three original organisers moved away, a second became ill, so for a while one person shouldered most of the work, which would not be sustainable in the longer term. How long we can carry on is debatable. For the time being, though, Silverdale Renaissance continues to flourish and running it has given us great satisfaction. It is such a pleasure to enjoy yet another wonderful performance, knowing that it would not have happened without us: we have found it hugely rewarding. If we can do it, anyone could! Maybe someone reading this might be inspired to start up another similar venture?
Our next events will be a welcome return of The Gesualdo Six in October (concert at Silverdale 24th, workshop at Arnside on the 25th), and on 12 March 2027 we will host Siglo de Oro. Find out more about us on our Facebook page: facebook.com/SilverdaleRenaissance
And what of the future? The two remaining organisers are not in our first youth and cannot go on for ever. If anyone is to take over from us they may have to go down the charity route. All I can say is, it has been hard work but great fun and I do not regret it, despite having been so sceptical at the outset.
Alison McLeod
Published in September 2026 Newsletter
