Express & Star

Forget Glasto! Romstock set to be rocking with ‘big surprise’ in store

A "mini-Glastonbury" festival featuring a number of tribute acts is set to hit the stage later this month.

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Mark Moran, Sarah Riches, Paul Shakespeare, Severine Mahony and Mick Couch prepare for Romstock.

Tribute acts of Elvis, Debbie Harry and Abba will perform at the latest Romstock Music Festival.

The festival, held at Romsley near Halesowen, will be held on June 15.

Band co-ordinator Mark Ublinski said: "I was the one who started it in 2012.

"The chair of Romsley Parish Council asked me to get them a band to play for the Queen's Jubilee.

"It started off with a plastic gazebo and 200 people dancing in the rain and two barrels of beer.

"The next year we thought 'let's do it again, but bigger' and it's grown and grown.

"It's become a little bit of a mini Glastonbury and there was more than 2,000 people last year.

"The stage has gone wide and the costs are phenomenal."

The event is being organised by David Powell on Romsley Parish Council.

Sarah Riches, Mark Ublinski, Paul Shakespeare (front), Severine Mahony and Mick Couch...

Money raised from the festival, held at Romsley Playing Fields off St Kenelm's Road, will go to projects to help benefit residents in the area – such as a children's play area or activities.

Mark, from Halesowen, said: "It's so nice for the community to have something to look forward to."

A total of 10 acts will perform, including Supernova, Jam DRC, David Onions and others.

And for people visiting the festival, there will be a "big surprise" in store.

"Last year I got the Quarrymen – the band that became The Beatles – and although the young ones didn't understand it, that was the main moment for me.

"But this year there will be something that should have 2,000 people getting seriously excited."

People are welcome to bring their own food and drinks to the festival, except glass bottles.

Food and drink will also be served at the event.

For more information about the event, visit http://romsleyparishcouncil.gov.uk/romstock/