FerringoFest helps 2 causes as preparations for last event take place

FerringoFest 2024 was the sixth edition of the Bury festival, which was founded by Steve Rogers of The Steve Ferringo Band, aiming to raise money for treating cancer, after his wife Ange died of the disease in 2015.

Less than five months after last year’s festival, which happened over the spring bank holiday in May, Steve died on October 4 aged 62, following a battle with cancer.

Steve Rogers AKA Steve Ferringo (Image: Richard Holton) Read more: ‘We know he will be with us’: Bury festival to be dedicated to well known musician

Read more: Wet weather fails to dampen atmosphere at popular Bury music festival

Read more: Tributes as founder of Ferringo Fest dies at the age of 62

Six months on from Steve’s death, £10,000 from the festival last year has been split to be given to Macmillan Cancer Support and Oldham’s NorthCare charity

(Image: Danny Crompton) Mick Ferringo (centre) with the cheque“It was a tricky process, I had to apply to become a signatory on the cheque in order to access the money,” Steve’s fellow band member Mick Ferringo said.

Mick gathered with other FerringoFest volunteers on Monday, April 7, at their monthly meeting at Elton Vale Sports Club, where the festival takes place, to present the cheque.

He added: “He’ll be looking down.”

The seventh edition of the festival on May 25 will mark the final FerringoFest and is being billed as a “final send-off” to Steve.

In total, across every FerringoFest, more than £80,000 has been raised for cancer patients. 

The aim this year is to reach £100,000.

Mick said: “It would be amazing to reach £100,000, what a milestone that would be.

“He has such a great legacy, he worked relentlessly for the cause, and it will be the send-off he deserves.”

The Steve Ferringo Band was a cabaret band which toured the UK and Ireland in the 1990s and 2000s, summarised by Mick as “dressing in strange costumes and things”.

The band had eight members at one point and were well loved.

FerringoFest 2025 will be at Elton Vale Sports Club with tickets for adults costing £16.75, children £9.05 and under threes entering for free.

All funds will be going towards cancer care.