YOUNG musicians brought a groove to the Guildhall as they turned Worcester into their own big stage to promote a free festival.

A dynamic lineup of talented young people held audiences spellbound as they performed outside the city's Guildhall in the High Street between noon and 4pm today (Saturday) to promote next month's Severn Sounds Festival.

The three-day, free festival is to take place at Pavilion in the Park in Tybridge Street, Worcester on June 3, 4 and 5 to raise money for Worcester charity New Hope which works with families who have children with disabilities and complex health care needs.

The festival, which runs from 7pm until 11pm, features Queen tribute band the Bohemians, the Magoos, Blobbie Williams, Jasper in the Company of Others, Foregate Street Blues, Clockwork Rifle and many more acts.

Opening the promotional event on Saturday was Jodie Howland who brought a buzz with Budapest by George Ezra.

Ewan Pollock, 18, performed Yellow by Coldplay, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, Come Together by The Beatles and Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.

Jess Atkinson and Ashleigh Webb, both 17, of Christopher Whitehead Language College performed Send My Love by Adele and a mash-up of Counting Stars, Holy Grail and Smells like Teen Spirit.

They were followed by Demi Delord, Elliot Kainey, Lauren Bough, Tone Tanner, Mark Barrett and Shannon Walker.

Collections for the charity were made as the artists performed while the Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Roger Knight, applauded any donations and also helped by handing out leaflets to promote the fundraiser.

He said: "It brings life to the High Street. It's a great opportunity to raise money for a very worthwhile cause and New Hope is a particularly worthwhile cause.

"I love to see it."

Di Howland, part of the organising committee, said the main event at the Pavilion would feature two stages, a main stage and a 'busk stop'.

Four slots at the Sunday family festival have gone to performers from the city's Christopher Whitehead Language College following a Battle of the Bands contest involving 17 acts going head-to-head.

These four winners will then compete at next month's festival for the chance to win a recording studio session with MAS records in Kidderminster.

Mrs Howland said: "The talent is amazing. It was quite interesting because some of the young people had never performed before to a big live audience (before the Battle of the Bands).

"It was very nerve-wracking. They were really amazing and we want to step it up to another level for the festival.

"We want to raise as much as we can for New Hope."

They had 2,000 raffle tickets but, having sold out, they had to secure 2,000 more, a sign the festival is gaining in popularity since it was founded four years ago by Ben Russell and Scott Howland.

Mr Russell said the festival was now gaining more support from companies and businesses which he said allowed the committee to keep the festival free for the community.

The festival includes a beer festival, face painting, a bouncy castle, hook a duck, a lucky dip and New Hope's Emily the Elephant.