One Year of The Forge FTV: Burnley Collective Marks Anniversary With Biggest Show Yet

A year after launching its mission to champion grassroots music in East Lancashire, The Forge FTV is heading back to Penny Black in Burnley for its first birthday celebration.

The Burnley-based independent production and promotion collective will mark the anniversary on Friday 25 September with a four-act Lancashire Live & Loud showcase featuring Healthy Junkies, Avid Fan, KOJA and Jack Flint.

It comes almost exactly 12 months after The Forge FTV held its official launch party, beginning a year that has seen the collective film local artists, promote live shows, appear at festivals, stage competitive band events and establish regular open jam nights.

At the centre of it all has been a focus on giving independent musicians a platform and helping build a stronger grassroots scene around Burnley and the wider East Lancashire area.

Founded in memory of Vicki Calland, The Forge FTV combines live event promotion with professional audio and visual coverage, working directly with local artists and venues rather than operating simply as another gig promoter.

Its first birthday event reflects that approach, with both touring and regional acts sharing the bill.

London's Healthy Junkies will headline the night with their mix of punk, grunge and glam rock. East Manchester trio Avid Fan bring a darker post-punk sound built around driving basslines and atmospheric guitars, while KOJA add a high-energy regional rock presence to the line-up.

Jack Flint completes the bill, opening the evening with an original singer-songwriter set.

The event will once again operate using The Forge FTV’s Pay What You Can model, with a £6 minimum admission price. The system is intended to strike a balance between keeping live music affordable and making sure artists are properly supported.

For a project that only officially launched a year ago, the anniversary marks a significant first milestone — and rather fittingly, it’ll be celebrated the same way it started: with a room full of bands and live music in Burnley.