“Lets put on a gig in a pub” These were the words spoken in 2011 that resulted in an event in the Greyhound that raised £400 and has turned into a three day festival attended by thousands.

There are multiple stages; events for the kids, a variety of food outlets and, of course, a huge amount of music to choose from.

Six years ago, who would have thought that Tom Newton would be standing on stage with Twin Atlantic announcing the total raised so far was £14,854 then on day two with Modestep announcing a massive £51,276 and that there is still another full day to go?

The festival has moved out of town to accommodate the camping and larger number of stages but still has a local feel to it. The sponsors and hundreds of volunteers are doing a fantastic job behind the scenes running a professional festival while making it all seem relaxed and effortless to the people attending (no mean skill I am sure).

It's impossible to see all of the bands but the ones I have managed to catch so far have all been excellent from the Daisy Ukeladies in The Badger Sett to an immense set by Twin Atlantic to close the first day. Other highlights included Our Hollow Our Home on the Vocal Zone Stage, The XCerts, The Jack Grace Band and a storming set by Oas-is on the Origin Stage. The Bowie Experience and Scouting For Girls provided the final acts of the festival with both drawing large crowds who had the times of their lives despite the rain that tried but failed to dampen the festival spirit.

The risks of a move to a larger site, the bigger bookings and extra manpower requirements all paid off with the total raised smashing all previous records and that will mean that when everyone has gone home and the stages have been dismantled this fantastic charity can continue to provide more help for the people who need it the most and that’s what this is really all about.

So next year buy your tickets, go along and have a fantastic time knowing that you are also doing something that will make a real difference to a lot of people.