APRIL | FEATURE
Production
prodigies
Production teams are
often the unsung heroes
of the festival and event
world. Access will, in this
space, be highlighting
the work of some of the
top innovators that help
define our industry.
Do get in contact
[email protected] to
nominate anyone you feel
is an unsung hero of your
production team.
Local Hero
Naomi Crewe
Town clerk, Colne
Town Council
Naomi Crewe oversees
numerous town centre events
in Colne, including Easter,
Halloween and Christmas
events, plus an annual Grand
Prix, all of which are lauded for
bringing a community spirit to
the town. In addition to these,
Naomi and her team oversee
the largest contemporary
blues festival in the UK - The
Great British Rhythm & Blues
Festival - which is hosted in the
town each August. 2020 is the
fourth year (out of the festival’s
31 year history) that Colne Town
Council have managed and
organised the event.
The festival takes place in
14
The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival
numerous town centre venues
(from 750 to 50 capacity),
Colne & Nelson Rugby Club
(which also doubles-up as the
festival campsite), plus many
more restaurants and bars.
This beautiful town is an ideal
location for an event of this
kind, with one long ‘main’ street
(closed to traffic) which hosts on-
street entertainment, busking,
food stalls, bars and more.
Each music venue is within
easy reach of the main
street, making this event
not only ‘Europe’s ultimate
contemporary blues festival’, but
also a one-of-a-kind and much-
loved festival for people of the
local area. An estimated 25,000+
people attended 2019’s festival;
with the event receiving a huge
amount of love.
Naomi is nominated for the
Production Pioneers Power List
as she is ‘an unstoppable force
of good’ for the area of Colne,
and for the events she oversees.
Her role is mainly based on the
production and infrastructure
side of things; overseeing the
festival finances, including
sponsorship deals, liaising with
police, organising road closures,
recruiting and training festival
volunteers, communicating
with the 15+ venues involved
with the blues festival, as well
as overseeing the festival
artists bookers and the festival
marketing teams.
Her nominee says: “The blues
festival is sincerely a town-
changing event, and Naomi
takes her extensive role in her
stride. She could possibly be
like a swan - effortlessly gliding
along, yet madly paddling away
underneath the surface. If this
is the case, one would never
“As with all events managers, I tend to just
knuckle down and ‘get things done’.”
know. At only 32 years old,
she possesses great wisdom,
fantastic event knowledge,
the ability to manage a team
with style and humour, and -
perhaps the biggest of all - a
capacity to work as part of the
aforementioned team, learning
and sharing skills on the go.
Naomi is young, dynamic and
(ahem) kinda quirky.”
Naomi adds: “I’m really
pleased to be nominated. As
with all events managers, I
tend to just knuckle down
and ‘get things done’. I’m not
afraid of hard work and love
the challenges my role entails.
What is fab is to be recognised
for the work and dedication
my position involves. I love
working as part of a team, I
love the communication, and
I love being an integral part
of my community. I was born
in Pendle, and having gained
experience in different roles in
other parts of the UK, it’s great
to be here and be involved with
positive community activities.”