A sincere thank you to everyone who applied to perform at this year’s LancsFest. This has been the largest response in the festival’s ten-year history, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to apply.
Please note that only applications submitted through the official Google Form on the website were considered. Messages sent via social media or email aren’t included in the selection process, as keeping everything within one system allows me to review applications fairly and manage the large amount of information involved.
This year I received over 150 applications and spent a long time listening through submissions and building a shortlist. One challenge I encountered was that some applicants don’t yet have a public digital presence (such as streaming platforms, YouTube, or artist pages). Having accessible material online makes it much easier to review work and connect professionally, especially for a festival built around supporting local artists.
If you weren’t selected this year, please know this isn’t a reflection of your ability. Programming a festival always involves difficult decisions, and I genuinely appreciate your interest in being part of it and in supporting the local arts scene.
Finally, I’d like to share that 2026 will be the final year of LancsFest in its current form. After ten years, it feels like the right time to close this chapter. The festival will return in 2027 under a new name and direction, and I’m looking forward to sharing more about that in the future.
Thank you again for being part of this journey of mine,
Joshua Holden