THE city’s newest public building was given a noisy transformation when Worcester Music Festival took it over for a day.

The Hive will be a quiet hub of activity once the library and history centre is officially opened by the Queen on July 11, but a free programme of events saw it dripping with local musical talent, attracting more than 1,700 people for a sneak preview.

There were live sets from the likes of Theo and his drum and guitar loops, raw rock from Das Sexy Clap, joyous indie-pop from Richard Clarke and the Rafters and impromptu performances outside the building.

For those wanting to get hands-on in the abstract spaces at the Hive a range of inspirational workshops for all ages ran throughout the day, from fiddle playing to Indian vocal percussion and learning the ropes as a DJ.

Co-ordinator Brian Hoggard, a former Worcester Mus-ic Festival chairman, said: “It was a really happy, varied day with a great atmosphere.

“We had elderly people boogying on the balconies to Das Sexy Clap, a very loud heavy rock band, through to little ones sitting in the box window seats listening to the stunning voice of Marie-Claire Berreen, and families bopping along to the infectious, indie folk songs of Richard Clarke and the Rafters in the sound-proof studio.

“It’s not something you usually see in a library. An amazing, amazing day all round.”

The main festival follows in and around the city centre from Friday to Monday, August 24 to 27.