Ferringo Fest’s final show smashes target and honours Steve’s legacy

Saturday, 17 January 2026 14:40

By David Murphy

A festival organised in memory of one of its founding members has raised over £33,000 for charity, marking a powerful end to the Ferringo Fest story – at least for now.

The final cheque presentation took place today, Sunday 17 January, at Elton Vale Sports Club in Ainsworth, with proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support and NorthCare Charity. Both were personally chosen by the late Steve Rogers, who helped create the much-loved Bury music festival and was also a key part of Glaston-Bury.

Steve passed away from cancer in October 2024, just months before what would become the final FerringoFest. By then, he had already raised over £90,000 for good causes. Organisers set a final target of £10,000 to push the running total past £100,000. In the end, they more than tripled that goal.

“We’re absolutely over the moon,” said organiser Mick Kiernan. “The turnout was great, about 50 people came to the presentation, and hitting £33,000 takes Steve’s total to nearly £125,000.”

Radio presenters from Roch Valley Radio went along, Christopher ‘Bucko’ Buckley, who also is the organiser for Glaston-BURY, was pictured with local radio DJ legend; Dave Sweetmore.

The 2025 festival was seen as one last send-off, completed in Steve’s honour after his death. The team had already begun planning before he passed, and decided to see it through.

“We always said it would be the final Ferringo Fest,” Mick added. “There’s no plan to do one this year, but there’s talk of something new in 2027, maybe in a different format. A year off feels right.”

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Macmillan and NorthCare were chosen by Steve after his wife’s cancer diagnosis, and Macmillan supported him in his final days. The funds raised from the 2025 event have been split equally, with £16,500 going to each charity.

Organisers also praised long-time supporter Martin Duffy from Whitworth, who has been involved from the beginning. “Without Martin, it wouldn’t have happened,” Mick said. “Steve was the driving force, but Martin has always been there. He wasn’t going to do last year’s; it was only because of Steve that he did.”

Daz, a close friend of Steve’s and a member of his band, said continuing with the 2025 event was never in doubt.

“We had to finish what he started,” he said. “There are still so many brilliant bands and people in Bury who support it. The charity will stay open too, so the legacy lives on.”

Among those who helped make the event a success was Lisa from Finlay Jude Associates, one of the festival’s sponsors.

She said, ‘Why didn’t you let me sing a song?’” Daz laughed. But she was really happy we went ahead with it. Everyone knew it was a tribute, and it felt like the right way to close the chapter.

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