Junction Bluegrass `Bresfest` Weekend 2024

In 2021 Bluegrass events and festivals were thin on the ground due to COVID etc. It was clear that as restrictions were relaxed people were looking for a Bluegrass weekend venue. We had all missed our regular summer events. Dave Lee was the organiser of two Summer Picking Weekends in Cheshire at the Cotton Arms and the Bhurtpore Inn. Both premises had themselves suffered due to the Pandemic and for various reasons were unable to provide their premises for Bluegrass gatherings that year.

Some of the Junction players also attended the above venues and were also disappointed that they were not going ahead.

The Junction has great facilities so after gaining permission from Paul Draper (the Landlord), we contacted Dave and suggested a Picking weekend at the Junction.

We had an informal meeting before our regular Wednesday session and Dave viewed the camping facility as well as the marquee and function room. We set a date in September 2021, and that was that.

To say it was a great success would be an understatement with visitors from up and down the country. The crew received nothing but positive reviews of the Pub and facilities plus the welcome and helpfulness of the staff. The large flat camping field was also well received. All the rooms were put to good use.

So we are set for another year of Bresfest at the Junction for 2024.

The weekend is in general picking session led but with some added elements.

Saturday morning workshops

Saturday afternoon marquee open mic

Saturday early evening marquee concert

Saturday night `The Big Bluegrass Marquee Session`

Sunday morning `Marquee Gospel Session`

We hope to provide a weekend to suit all levels of players as Bres would have wanted. I hope you will agree with me that if the man could be present at our little festival he would be enjoying himself and proud to see so many enjoying themselves in the music he loved.   


Image

Dave `Bres` Bresnen

So if your into Bluegrass music in the North West it’s hard to ignore or be influenced by Dave Bresnan. (or just Bres). Dave’s shop in the Fazakerley district of Liverpool, `Frets Old And New`,was quite an Aladdin's Cave of all things Bluegrass. He sold a selection of guitars and banjos including Martin’s, Stelling’s, Gibson’s as well as fiddles and mandolins. This was in the years preceding the internet so no ordering stuff on line. He repaired instruments. He stocked books on playing Bluegrass instruments but for me it was his imported Bluegrass CDs. It was 8 miles down the road for me so I’d often pop in and discuss what he had. He knew I liked progressive Bluegrass and steered me that way. He had great knowledge to impart and through him I learnt a lot about Bluegrass, the scene in the UK, the festivals and other sessions etc. 

We at the Junction are proud to say he was a regular to out Wednesday sessions. He travelled the length and breadth of the UK in his van. Selling his wares at all Bluegrass Festivals and as a result he was known widely by the UK Bluegrass community.

Not long after we started at the Junction he proposed we use the upstairs function room to host American touring artists and band. This opened up a new chapter in the history of Bluegrass at the Junction and though Bres we got to see some great bands of the time. The lads even got to jam with some of them later in the bar. He was at one time the Chairperson of the British Bluegrass Music Association. (BBMA).

Dave passed away in 2021 and following his funeral we returned to the Junction for his wake.

He is missed greatly.  In his honour Dave's family have allowed us to call our picking weekend Bresfest. 



ENQUIRE NOW

Junction Pub

Address

Junction Pub
The Junction Inn
102 News Lane
Rainford
St Helens
Merseyside
WA11 7JU

01744 882868
Email Us

Website Design by Azizi Media