A virtual festival has been such an amazing success that it is making a return this weekend.

Cumbria’s Virtual Festival, organised by Liam Moorhouse, James Cowan and Stuart Fleming raised more than £5,600 for Hospice at Home West Cumbria, so a two-day event is planned for May 23 and 24.

The line-up starts on Saturday at 1pm with Amy Morton from Whitehaven. Amy, 25, is a teaching assistant at Victoria Junior School and she is also releasing a charity single to raise funds for the NHS. Amy said: “I am honoured to be a part of Cumbria’s Virtual Festival and I am so amazed at how everyone is pulling together at this difficult time.”

Newcomers to the virtual festival - but not to the local music scene - include Luke Matear who will be entertaining viewers with a wide range of acoustic songs to suit all tastes; Rue, from Rue and the rockets, Nicky Wild and Megan Smith.

Some favourite acts from the first festival includes: Miss Pearl, Big D, Robert Wright, Logan Paul Murphy and Miss Dee. Closing the Saturday event is one of the UK’s favourite Shania Twain tribute acts, “The Ultimate Shania Twain Experience,” who is a regular visitor to Cumbria. James, said: “We worked with Samantha last year when we organised a fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Care. Tickets sold out within a couple of weeks, and then after her performance, we were inundated with messages asking if we were going to have Samantha back.

“We organise a lot of charity events, so we were planning on having her back this year, but due to the current situation with Covid-19, it hasn’t been possible to arrange any events. However, when I messaged Samantha to ask if she would perform at Cumbria’s Virtual Festival, she said she would love to be a part of the festival, as she always has such a great time performing in Cumbria and loves the reaction from the people that go to see her shows.”

On Sunday people tuning in will enjoy the return of Heartline, Steve Byrne and “Jenia” who also raised extra funding for Hospice at Home West Cumbria by shaving off her eyebrows before her last performance.

Organiser, Liam Moorhouse will also be returning to the virtual stage, he said: “So many of the Cumbrian entertainment scene are great friends. We work together in different venues, and support each other through difficult times such as now. We can’t play the venues at the moment, so if we can deliver entertainment to your homes live from our living rooms whilst raising funds for an excellent charity once again, then bring it on!”

Liam, who has been in the entertainment industry for more than 15 years , has also said that if they get another £500 in donations through the just giving page before May 22, he will shave off his much loved hair.

Other popular entertainers will be Jen Donnelly, Mikey T and The Arguments. High Dynamics, from Carlisle. Michael T Ogilvie. Michael has written, produced and recorded a single which became available on May 15. This will be his third single, but his first time appearing on Cumbria’s Virtual Festival stage.

Just Steve, Nicky B and Alana. Nicky is a frontline worker who is currently looking after a wide range of clients in West Cumbria. Alana, from Cleator Moor, is a nurse that works for Hospice at Home West Cumbria. Organiser, Stuart Fleming said: “I am so pleased that Alana agreed to join us for this event. Alana is coming back for a one off performance. She has always been a great and well-loved entertainer, and she won’t disappoint while being part of the Cumbria Virtual Festival family.”

Closing Sunday night’s entertainment will be drag act “Stella the Fella” - also known as Stuart Fleming. Stuart said: “People see my act as adult orientated, so I was left to close the Sunday night after the watershed. I believe we have put together a wide range of acts that everyone can enjoy over the weekend, and hopefully raise even more money for Hospice at Home West Cumbria. It has been a pleasure being involved in these events, and like all the other entertainers, I am looking forward to getting back out there and performing in front of a live audience.”

The event will be at: facebook.com/cumbriasvirtualfest. Charity donations can be made at their Just Giving Page at: justgiving.com/fundraising/virtualfestival