UPTON Blues Festival was a roaring success this weekend, with live acts filling the town streets with music.
A record 3,000 campers attended this year’s July 15-July17 festival and musicians took part in more than 130 gigs.
The festival also hosted a dedicated FM radio station called Upton Blues FM which was temporarily broadcasting for the weekend.
Judy Mims, from Cardiff, said: “This is the second year I’ve been, the setting makes it special. It’s idyllic here and I like that as I was born and bred in the Forest of Dean.
Alan Redman, Ms Mims’ friend, said: “I’m coming up for the next one. I’d even come here in winter for a meal, just to have a wander about. It’s a pleasant town.
“After I came here two years ago, I told other friends that they should come too.”
Pictured above: Judy Mims and Alan Redman.
Mr Redman said he knew many Welsh people who attend the festival and that bus trips to the are organised from Pontypool.
The pair said one of the highlights of the festival was when they went on a boat trip with live band playing on board.
Joe Lewis, from Worcester, said: “I’ve been coming for over 40 years, I was 11 when I first came.
“It’s got so much bigger since the early years and in some respect it’s got better and I’m still really enjoying it.”
Danny Donato, a 26-year-old aspiring musician, said: “I want to play here next year. I play guitar and sing and will perform at Worcester Music Festival in September.
“The soul of blues appeals to me as it is black slave music originally. I got into the music by listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan.”
Organisers estimated 20,000 people would attend the free festival, bringing in around £800,000 to the local economy, according to research.
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