SUNSHINE, music and heaps of nostalgia brought festival followers to Stowford for the reborn Trowbridge Festival.

The festival, from Friday to Sunday, saw the return of many followers who attended the Village Pump festivals through the decades.

Nick Reed the festival director welcomed the return to the spiritual home in the picturesque setting of Stowford Manor home.

Writing in the programme, fellow festival director Colin Peel said: “We are a new festival at the same time as being the old one. A new team, fresh with energy and new ideas. Old with the tradition of quality and past value. And the organisers of this reborn festival dedicated it to the good people who founded it and ran it and made it what it is- the unique little gem that is the Trowbridge Festival. It’s a brand-new festival in its 45th year.”

Festival follower Emma Fae, best known as the Fairy on Stilts, was delighted it had returned to Stowford.

She said: “It is great to be back, it is such a magical place. I am not in my fairy role this year but returned as a paying spectator as Stowford has so many good memories for me.”

On a slightly smaller scale than previous years, there was still plenty of music with the usual Main Stage, a newly opened Barn stage, and one inside the Bar Tent.

The main attraction on the Saturday line up was Kiki Dee who has teamed up with Guitarist Carmelo Luggeri, touring the UK and Europe with their unique acoustic-based show.

Among other big names in the three-day event was Ben Walters, voted piano player of the year two years ago, and the veterans of Glastonbury WOMAD and Boomtown RSVP Bhangra, Peter Gage and Al O’Kane.

Along these headliners was a packed line up of local artists including Bristol based Mr Tea and the Minions who had the main marque audience dancing in a bouncing frenzy of fun.

And even more local was Melodeon Player Bertie Wright of Bradford On Avon playing a variety of music at the new Barn Stage.

Trowbridge musician Phil Cooper brought his Slight band to the main stage on Saturday handing out dozens of Egg shakers making a real connection with the Crowd.

Compere Jack Daniels paid tribute to the many people who made this year’s revival event at Stowford. He told the the hundreds of people that attended that next year’s festival is already in the planning stage and is set to be another sell out.