Music festival hailed as big success
Organisers of Kidderminster's first ever Music Festival today claimed it had been a big success and that they wanted to see it become an annual event in the town.
Organisers of Kidderminster's first ever Music Festival today claimed it had been a big success and that they wanted to see it become an annual event in the town.
The Festival was designed to celebrate the work of some of the best rock, blue, funk, r 'n' b, acoustic and indie bands.
Artists who helped spawn the Wyre Forest musical heritage including Mike Sanchez headlined the main concert on Saturday night.
Mike, who grew up in Bewdley and still lives in Kidderminster, took to the stage amid thunderous applause from the audience who packed the Town Hall.
He headed a night of rock 'n' roll, blues and soul, with Ian Parker, from Wolverhampton, who caused the alarms to sound when a smoke machine billowed out too much for the sensors to cope with, and Deborah Bonham, sister of the late drummer John Bonham, of Led Zeppelin fame.
Her nephew Jason, who is currently selling his Worcestershire home at Birlingham to go and live in Florida and who took his late father's place when at the reunion of Led Zeppelin at the O2 Arena, took to the drums to the delight of the audience.
Carlisle Egypt, featuring Kevin Gammond, who played with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant in the Band of Joy, opened the show and appeared with Verden Allen, who was Mott The Hoople's original keyboard player.
The festival began last Thursday(September 25) and continues tonight(September 29) with new-wave acoustic music featuring King Rich and guests during an event being staged at Kidderminster Library.
One of the main organisers and local music historian John Coombe said: "I think the festival has been a real success. We will be discussing whether the Town Hall is the right venue but we definitely hope to make this an annual event.
"We hope to invite more artists who were associated with the area in the past and who went on to achieve great things.
"The good thing about this festival is that it has provided five days of superb, diverse music under cover and unlike other festivals across the county no wellies were required."
