Music festival proves worldwide attraction (From Worcester News)

Music festival proves worldwide attraction

12:20pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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MORE than 200 bands have already applied to take part in this year’s Worcester Music Festival – some from as far away as Iran and Russia.

The city-wide festival, which promotes homegrown bands and celebrates live local music, is now in its third year and still going from strength to strength.

The weekend-long event, which takes place from Friday, August 20, until Sunday, August 22, is seen as an entity on its own as well as a welcome addition to the long standing Worcester Festival.

About 230 bands and solo artists have already applied to play the festival through the website worcestermusicfestival.co.uk, but organisers want to attract even more acts from Worcestershire.

Festival founder Chris Bennion said: “We have had applications from bands and artists wanting to play the festival from London, Glasgow, Dublin, and also, quite surprisingly from Egypt, Iran, Russia and the States.

“But the acts we really want to concentrate on are those from this neck of the woods – the musicians from Worcestershire area.

“We really want to promote local talent. I know for a fact that there are so many great bands out there and they deserve a stage.”

More than 20 different promoters are now involved in the festival, ensuring that every genre of music is covered and every music fan is catered for.

Once again the majority of the shows, taking place in dozens of different locations from city centre cafes to pubs in St John’s, will be free entry.

The festival will be run by volunteers and money from raffles and fund-raising will go to local charities.

Any bands from the Worcestershire and surrounding areas interested in playing at Worcester Music Festival should log onto worcestermusicfestival.co.uk