THOUSANDS of music-lovers are expected to descend on Halesworth this weekend for the town’s annual Gig in the Park.

This year’s three-day festival, due to be the last of its kind in the town, is being headlined by the Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Katrina, formerly of Katrina and the Waves.

Organisers were forced to bring the not-for-profit music event to a close after 15 years because of rising costs, but are confident its final outing will be a fitting send-off.

The entertainment in the town park kicks off this evening with acts including post-punk rockers Belter returning to the Mainstage, followed by hit singer and Eurovision Song Contest winner Katrina.

Meanwhile, the Other Stage features DJ duo Crackerz and Jam, as well as Paul Sparkes, who grew up in Halesworth and has since played festivals across the globe.

Saturday sees the Fun Lovin Criminals headlining with support from Nine Below Zero, who previously played the festival in 2009.

The line-up also includes Framlingham singer-songwriter Freya Roy and local band The Folk Collective.

On Sunday, the Lee Vasey band top the bill on the Mainstage, which will also host the first appearance at the festival by blues rockers Buster James.

Returning to the festival earlier in the day will be the thunderous sounds of the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers.

Chasing Tigers close out the event on the Other Stage, while Penny Hannant, the Broadside Boys and Lucy Sampson play unplugged acoustic sets.

Event producer John Marshall Potter, said: “We’re hoping to go out with a bang. It has become such a big event over the years and we’re almost victims of our own success.

“All the artists seem to be looking forward to performing and we think the Fun Lovin’ Criminals will go down a storm.

“This has always been a place for local artists, particularly younger ones, to perform alongside big well-known names.”

All profit from the festival is put back into the community, with some �30,000 contributed to training schemes and local causes in the last five years alone.

To find out more about this year’s festival, visit www.giginthepark.co.uk.