FESTIVAL fever is rising as Rugby gets ready for its biggest ever live music event on Saturday.
The free Rugby Music Festival will include 24 acts across two stages, stalls, fairground rides, a laser game and a licensed bar at the new, larger venue of Whitehall Recreation Ground.
Freeradio breakfast show hosts JD & Roisin will compere the main stage throughout the day.
Rugby acoustic artist Eve Singleton visited sponsors Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, where she has had an account since childhood, to kick-off the build-up.
Eve, winner of the 2013 Rugby’s Got Talent competition, said: “It’s great Rugby has this event and it’s brilliant that I get to play at my hometown festival. All my friends will be there and lots of my family too.”
Eve, 15, who first picked up a guitar aged five, writes her own songs and has been performing at venues in Rugby and beyond.
She will perform a 30-minute afternoon set but says she will not be fazed by the size of the crowd.
“The local music scene is fantastic, with so many genres and venues – and there’s a real community amongst the musicians and bands.”
David Head, organiser of the Festival, said: “It is thanks to the Society and our other sponsors that the Festival happens at all and that it can be free so the people of Rugby can come and enjoy great live music with their friends, family and neighbours.”
He was delighted that the line-up was so eclectic, including genres such as boy band, pop, rockabilly, jazz-funk, soul, rock, glam-punk, funk-rock and merseybeat.
“What an an amazing mix of genres and an amazing pool of talent,” he said. “There will be something to appeal to everyone.”
Rugby’s MP Mark Pawsey said he was looking forward to the event.
“It’s fantastically exciting to see such a strong community event growing from grass roots in just four years”, he said, “I’ve always known Rugby has a thriving music scene and it’s great to see it showcased like this. Rugby deserves it.”
The ground opens at 10am and the event runs through until 8pm, with live music on two stages.
Visit www.rugbymusicfestival.org.uk for details of the festival and the bands performing.
