TWENTY bands mixing rock, pop, soul, electro, hip hop and country showed why Alresford Music Festival is fast becoming a staple in the diary of Hampshire’s music lovers.

Previous events have been dogged by bad weather, but this year the gods were smiling as Arlebury Park was drenched in sunshine.

Headliners The Earthlights Boogie Band had the crowd jumping to a mix of original disco and funk, with Mo-town, soul, pop and rock classics thrown in.

Other highlights included electro-pop band Scarlet Soho, ska outfit The Skore, hip hop/classical rockers Josephine and the Artizans, pop rock act Streetfight Silence, poptinged country group Ben Goddard Band and Winchester singer/songwriter Nina Schofield.

This year’s event also introduced an acoust-ic stage featuring up-andcoming folk artist Sean McGowan, w h o r e c e n t ly s u p p o r t e d Winchester’s Frank Turner.

He was joined by Winchester’s Ollie Wade, who performed his song Free, written in memory of his brother Ben in aid of Naomi House children’s hospice.

As well as two stages of live music there were a variety of food stalls, a festival village, a “big top”

bar and lots of family entertainment throughout the day, including circus activities, music workshops, pop dance workshops, craft stalls and zorbing.