A FREE feast of music is set to liven up Redditch town centre as part of this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The first Redditch Music Festival takes place between Friday to Sunday (August 1 to 3) and forms part of the week long So Redditch Festival, marking the town’s designation as a new town in 1964.
There will be more than 30 acts playing a mix of indie rock, blues and acoustic tunes over the three days in ten venues around the town centre including Café Mambo@No 5 on Church Green, The Queen’s Head off Queen Street, The Royal Enfield on Unicorn Hill and The Sportsman’s Arms in Peakman Street.
There will also be a number of performances on the bandstand and buskers at various points around the town centre and at Death or Glory Records in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.
The music festival has also joined forces with the Jon Bonham Memorial Fund to stage the highlight of the three days, which will be a special performance by the Led Zeppelin drummer’s sister Deborah Bonham in
St Stephen’s Church on Saturday, August 2.
Organiser and Redditch resident Steve Barnes, who has been involved in music promotion for the last 25 years including working with Girls Aloud and McFly, said the majority of the acts were local artists which would help showcase the town’s talent.
“I’ve been involved in another festival in Nantwich and I think such an event is something Redditch is missing and the 50th anniversary was too good an opportunity to miss,” he said.
“It will also act as a good counter point to the study claiming Redditch is the least musically sophisticated place in the UK, which is something I believe is certainly not true and there will be a lot of local musicians performing.
“There will be a general mix of live music and an opportunity for people to see bands and musicians they wouldn’t normally encounter, in the heart of Redditch.”
If successful it is hoped the festival will become a permanent addition to the town’s social calendar.
All the events are free with the exception of the performance by Deborah Bonham. Tickets cost £10 in advance from www.GoldenGiving.com/charity/john-bonham-memorial-fund or £12 on the door subject to availability.
Visit www.redditchmusicfestival.com for the full line up of acts.
