THOUSANDS of music fans are expected to descend on Upton-upon-Severn in Worcestershire this weekend, for the town’s annual jazz festival.

Ticket-holders are eager to see legends of the jazz world, including 60s supergroup The Temperance Seven, Alan Barnes, Bent Persson and Jonathan Vinten, and they are flocking to the riverside town for four days of live music.

A spokesman said: "A huge dance section is driven by the likes of the world-renowned Jive Aces and Swing Commanders, and newcomers to the pack are led by Leeds-based Louis Louis Louis and the quirky Washboard Resonators."

Fifty gigs are scheduled to take place between the opening day (Thursday June 22) and Sunday, in venues which make up the Festival Village, including the groundbreaking Best of Young Jazz programme, "which celebrates the rising stars of the jazz world".

The spokesman added: "This year, second-liners are encouraged to decorate traditional brollies and take part in Saturday’s Mardi Gras-style parade through Upton’s historic streets in return for a host of prizes.

"And for the first time, a performance space down by the riverside has been installed as part of a lively fringe festival, which reflects the decorated windows of the towns shops, pubs and clubs."

There will be riverboat shuffles aboard the Conway Castle, a gospel-style church service and dozens of stalls "selling everything from jazz memorabilia to artisan food and local ales and ciders".

There’s is also dedicated campsite at the heart of the festival village.

“It’s such a great family festival,” said Musical Director Rachel Hayward.

She added: “We spend all year planning for this weekend, and this year’s line-up is better than ever. There’s an incredible mix of trad, Dixieland, hot club, European and gipsy jazz, and even some for thrown in for good measure. We’re so looking forward to seeing the bands and the thousands of festival-goers - and it’s not just jazz fans who come to Upton for the weekend. There are hundreds of families who come down simply to soak up the atmosphere of live music down by the river. It’s going to be absolutely brilliant and the forecast is set for sunshine all weekend. We can’t wait.”

Day tickets are available, from £30, from www.uptonjazz.co.uk. Weekend trail badges cost £80 and camping is £35 per person, with a jazz ticket.

Accompanied under-14s go free.