ORGANISERS of Mirfield’s first-ever live music festival are urging people to buy advance tickets to ensure the event goes ahead.

M-Fest, organised by Donal O’Driscoll’s Festival Stage Events, needs to sell at least £10,000-worth of tickets to cover basic costs.

Tickets, with a face value of £10, went on sale in February at half price in local shops.

Each month the price rises and through March tickets are just £6.

Donal, the man behind Heckmondwike’s popular Crown of Lights Festival, said M-Fest was ready to go but needed the financial backing of music lovers.

“To stage an eight-10 hour live music event like this costs at least £30,000 to be done professionally,” he said.

“In order for the event to go ahead we need to sell the bare minimum of £10,000-worth of tickets in advance, otherwise it just can’t happen.”

M-Fest will take place on Bank Holiday Monday May 25 at Mirfield Showground in Huddersfield Road.

Brighouse singer-songwriter Roger Davies is among the acts lined up to perform.

The event will be opened by around 40 young musicians from Castle Hall Academy in Mirfield and bands booked to play include six from Mirfield, making it a real local occasion for the town.

Bands due to play include: Alex Quinn & The Man In The Street, Blind Dead McJones Band, Emerald City Underground, Further From The Truth, Jeepster, Propane Penny, Ska House, String Villains, Twist of Fate and Young Amphibians.

To promote the event Mirfield bands Propane Penny and Ska House will play outside Sowerby Bros Cycles in Princess Street, behind the Tesco Express store, between 1.30pm and 3pm on Saturday March 8.

If £10,000 isn’t raised in time all money raised in advance ticket sales will go to Kirkwood Hospice.

It was originally thought proceeds may go towards the running costs of Mirfield’s public toilets, but the hospice was chosen as it would benefit people across Kirklees.

In March tickets cost £6 for adults and £3 for children.

Tickets are on sale at Wi’ Bits, Home & Body, Kirkwood Hospice charity shop, Ramsdens Butchers, The Missing Label and Sowerby Bros in Mirfield town centre.

Tickets can also be purchased from Kirkwood Hospice main reception or by phone on 01484 557911.

Online sales will be available soon on www.mfest.biz