Groundbreaking music festival and disability event to be held at Delapré Abbey
Next month's NN Fest will see the first combined music festival and disability event of its kind in the UK.
Northampton is set to make history in September as two distinct events come together at Delapré Abbey to create the first combined music festival and disability event of its kind in the UK.
NN Fest, organised by Mo Sounds, will take place on Saturday 20th September.
In collaboration with Army Veteran from Towcester known as ‘The Disabled Adventurer’ Nick Wilson, live music will come together with accessible outdoor adventure in a groundbreaking inclusive collaboration, showcasing a pilot extreme all terrain chair.
The record breaking extreme all-terrain prototype RockClimber enabled Nick to achieve his solo ascent of Yr Wyddfa (Snodwon), and will see an All-terrain Experience trail taking people around the Abbey grounds.
This collaboration for NN Fest was announced last night at the screening of Nick's film about his adventure up the Welsh mountain, which premiered at the Royal & Derngate.
Nick says it's about giving the disabled community the opportunity to get outdoors:
"It's really bringing together the two things that really help us get through difficult and tough times. Music uplifting, bringing communities together and getting outdoors.
"So combining the disability event with the music festival. It is totally unique and totally takes it away from the usual formality that you get at disability expos and exhibitions."
Suzy Jones, Operations Director from MOSounds, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to be bringing NN Fest back to the beautiful grounds of Delapré Abbey - it's such a special venue and the perfect setting for live music. What makes this year even more exciting is our partnership with Nick Wilson and Access Outdoors.
“We believe music has the power to unite people, so collaborating on the UK's first combined music festival and disability event feels like a natural step forward. We had such fantastic feedback on accessibility at a few of our previous events and feel it’s really important to show people how outdoor festivals can make minor adjustments that make a huge difference to wheelchair users.
"This shouldn’t be special and exciting, it should be the norm! This partnership allows us to create something truly groundbreaking - where great music meets innovative accessibility, ensuring everyone can be part of the celebration at Delapré Abbey."
NN Fest will deliver live music across Delapré Abbey's historic south lawn, while Access Outdoors will showcase an impressive lineup of all-terrain mobility suppliers and manufacturers including AJM Healthcare, Quantum, Sunrise Medical, and Hobb Rehab.
The trail will be specifically aimed at people who've never experienced riding over varying terrains before, with the offering of a “Buddie” to accompany them for reassurance if required.