Three thousand people made their way to the Town Park, Midsomer Norton on Saturday, 1st June for the third annual Midsomer Norton Music and Arts Festival.

Thanks to the Community Trust, the event was another great success, with lots of great bands gracing the stage – a truck bed kindly supplied by Massey Wilcox - from 1pm right through to the evening. The audience once again filled the amphitheatre and surrounding town park area, and the crowd was in good spirits.

Local legends Spaghetti Mountain finished off the day in style, playing their own brand of atmospheric and soulful rock as the sun went down.

Other seasoned performers included popular local cover band Called the Shots, who had the audience on their feet with rocking hits from the 70’s to the 00’s. From Bristol, the Brass Junkies, a five-piece ensemble including a show-stopping sousaphone, impressed the crowd with their upbeat covers of classic, well-known songs. The Peccadilloes kept things lively with their swamp Americana-mix of rockabilly, soul and swing.

Supporting were a selection of younger performers. From Bath College were fantastic bands Molly and the band and Ignotis, while from Midsomer Schools Partnership we enjoyed great performances from Loophole.

Decorated paper plates, and other food-inspired artworks from the arts trail, were displayed inside the art marquee. There were free art activities ranging from printing, origami, and foraging, delivered by artists Steph Howell and Jax Williams, and Somer Valley Rediscovered. Graffiti artist RAW created a bright and expressive mural on site during the day, and decorated t-shirts for the crowd. As well as all this, there were several independent art activities, and children were also entertained with face paints and a bouncy castle.

Martyn Plant, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, and a Community Trust trustee, was one of the key people behind the festival, and organised the music and art for this stand out event.

He said: “We were very pleased with the line up we put together for the festival. We always aim for a variety of performers, and we managed that this year, with different styles of music, different types of groups and performers, and different ages and levels of performing experience. We love recognising local talent, and especially supporting new and emerging performers.

“Our youngest acts were again from Norton Hill and Somervale Schools, and we were very pleased to give them a platform to share their music and develop their skills. We were also very happy to provide an opportunity for performers currently studying at Bath College to share their music.

“There was some fantastic talent on display, and they delighted the audience, and already have many devoted fans and followers.

“We also mustn’t forget to recognise the hard work of the staff from Serenity Audio, who did an amazing job, managing the needs of so many bands, and making them all sound great.”

There was lots for the crowds to eat and drink during the day. Somer Valley Brewery provided a constant supply of ale and cider, while Still Sisters kept the gin and cocktails flowing. Roaming Deli, Somer Valley Farms and Jumbos worked hard to keep people fed.

Martyn Plant opened proceedings, thanking all the volunteers and workers who had made the day happen, as well as sponsors and donors, who included Midsomer Norton Town Council: “This is what Midsomer Norton is all about and does so well - people volunteering their time and effort to bring the community together. That’s what makes other people jealous of what we’ve got right here in Midsomer Norton.”

Alex Davis, Midsomer Norton Community Trust manager was also pleased with how things went, “Everyone has been so positive, there’s been a really great atmosphere, all the stall holders and traders running the bars and food stalls have been fantastic. A massive thank you goes to all the volunteers that helped set up as well. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year!”

Midsomer Norton Community Trust is always looking for volunteers, and details can be found at mnct.co.uk

Further events are coming up on the Town Park include the Town Fayre 13th July, Carradine’s singalong on 8th June, and weekend yoga, dog walking and running activities.