People get ready, Keynsham Music Festival's coming

With the best of local bands across four stages, a creative arena offering workshops for children, delicious food from around the world and real ales – the Keynsham Music Festival promises to be unmissable.

Jon Amor Blues Group

This year's free event is bigger and better than ever this year. The fun starts on Tuesday, June 28 at various venues through the town and runs until and runs until Sunday, July 3.

Highlights include an outdoor screening of "Sing-along Mamma Mia!" on Friday, July 1 at 9.45pm. Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth and featuring Abba's greatest hits, the film will transport you from the starry skies of Keynsham Memorial Park to the sunny skies of Greece.

There will be a bar and barbecue available from 8.30pm, for which a donation is asked, but otherwise the event is free. And if it rains, the film will be screened in a large marquee.

On Saturday, July 2 the town centre will be a hive of fun and activity thanks to internationally acclaimed street performers programmed by Lee Dowse of Crossant Neuf Circus.

It's promising to be an eclectic cocktail of eccentric cabaret, music, comic stupidity, magic and incredible acrobatic acts of daring taking place under the clock tower from noon.

Meanwhile in Keynsham Memorial Park on Saturday, there will be a new stage, called Keynsham Sounds. Programmed by young Keynsham residents, this stage will showcase some of the best new young bands in the area as well as activities such as grassboarding a Silent Rave at 9.30pm, UV facepainting and a fire show. And for very young, there is storytelling and crafts down by the Bandstand from 2.30pm.

The festival rounds off on Sunday from noon in Keynsham Memorial Park. Highlights include Troy Ellis, son of legendary Alton Ellis, and his Hail Jamaica Reggae Band; Bath band Fabric, with a sound likened to Pink Floyd and Portishead with Stevie Nicks on vocals; beat ska hip hop outfit, Largo Embargo, winners of this year's Live and Unsigned; Spanish Rumba and French Swing with the Vamos Band and powerful, raw, uncompromising blues from the Jon Amor Blues Band.

"The festival really is one of a kind", says Suzy Mizrahi, festival co-ordinator. "We have somehow managed to put on a local event, celebrating local community and marry that up with a great free music festival. Everybody comes… young and old, skateboarders, musicians, artists, scouts, grannies, councillors and they all tell us how much they enjoy it. Despite all the cuts in the arts, and ever increasing red tape, we are getting bigger every year.. and we are still free!"

The festival is free, but organisers do ask for a donation of £2 per adult.

For further information, a full programme, and photos of the various events, check out Keynsham Peoplem, or visit www.keynshammusicfestival.co.uk

People get ready, Keynsham Music Festival's coming