Festival comes of age

A Worcestershire town was the setting for probably the biggest 21st birthday in the county's history.

The Upton Jazz Festival came of age over the weekend, in a riot of colour and music as 53 bands played their hearts out to thousands of residents and visitors. Three days of the hottest sounds around were blessed with blazing sunshine as fans flocked to the town's pubs and marquees on Fish Meadow. Landlords and traders alike did a roaring trade as punters got in the party mood.

Festival treasurer Roger Sutton told the Worcester News: "After 21 years we're still providing people with what they want.

"There's always a wonderful atmosphere at Upton. I think that our festival helped to encourage other events in the town such as the folk and blues festivals that were subsequently started up. Everyone has a good time and businesses in Upton prosper too."

Organiser `Sir' Alan Buckley said: "The opening night was good and the weather has been great too. As this was our 21st birthday we decided to include some Indian drummers in the Saturday morning parade through the town. They added a real splash of colour to the vibrant event."

Although this annual bash down by the riverside is mainly dedicated to traditional and classic jazz, there was something for everyone - even a Beatles tribute band, which spurred everyone of a certain age to get up and dance.

Skiffle, that musical hybrid that set Britain ablaze in the 1950s, was also represented.

Star attraction on Saturday night was George Melly, who treated a capacity crowd to his own very special brand of bawdy blues. Elsewhere, artists from Europe and the USA entertained onlookers.