Thousands of festival-goers are expected to descend on parks in Ipswich, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds this summer for a series of two-day music extravaganzas.

East Anglian Daily Times: A Taylor Swift tribute act performs at the 2017 Nearly Festival in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYA Taylor Swift tribute act performs at the 2017 Nearly Festival in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

Tributes to major acts such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and Little Mix will grace stages at three Nearly Festival events, taking place in June and July.

Now in its third year, the tribute festival is growing in popularity – and as a result, the 2018 Ipswich instalment will now be hosted at Trinity Park.

Camping is also being introduced for the first time, with guests encouraged to stay over at the 300-acre site, also home to the Suffolk Show.

Tipped to draw bumper audiences to the three major towns in the region, organisers hope this year’s events will be bigger and better than ever.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Nearly Festival is returning to Ipswich, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds this summer. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYThe Nearly Festival is returning to Ipswich, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds this summer. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

Revealing plans to introduce camping for the Ipswich weekend, organiser Danny Banthorpe said: “Camping is quite exciting, something we’ve not done before.

“We’re looking at the potential of people bringing their kids and having the festival experience for the first time.

“They can come for one night, two nights, three nights – it might only be five minutes from where you live but bring a tent, bring the kids and give them that experience without being two hours from home.

But he added: “The only minus is how nice it was to work at Holywells Park, the site was perfect.

East Anglian Daily Times: Stone Roses tribute at the Nearly Festival 2017 at Holywells Park in Ipswich. Picture: NIGE BROWNStone Roses tribute at the Nearly Festival 2017 at Holywells Park in Ipswich. Picture: NIGE BROWN (Image: Archant)

“I’m a loyal person, I don’t like leaving places but the growth opportunity is there – there’s a few ways of looking at it, keeping it as a boutique festival, staying to your roots which is pretty much what we’re doing at Abbey Gardens, we sell-out Abbey Gardens every year.”

Alongside tributes for global acts such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Amy Winehouse, Coldplay and Queen, a street food market will be at all three locations.

A chilled pub in the park will also be on offer, plus a dedicated kids zone for children.

Festival bosses are due to kick off their programme in Norwich from June 16-17, closely followed by the Colchester event from June 30 to July 1 at the town’s Castle Park.

East Anglian Daily Times: Motown tribute at last year's Nearly Festival in Ipswich. Picture: NIGE BROWNMotown tribute at last year's Nearly Festival in Ipswich. Picture: NIGE BROWN (Image: Archant)

Acts will be at Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds from June 23-24, while the Ipswich event is at Trinity Park from July 28-29.

For more information and to book tickets, visit this link.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Kaiser Thiefs play at the 2017 Nearly Festival in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYThe Kaiser Thiefs play at the 2017 Nearly Festival in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

East Anglian Daily Times: Camping is being offered for the first time at the 2018 nearly Festival in Ipswich, as it moves to a new venue - Trinity Park. Pictured are Taylor Johnson, Crystal and Rwena Leva at last year's Ipswich event. Picture: NIGE BROWNCamping is being offered for the first time at the 2018 nearly Festival in Ipswich, as it moves to a new venue - Trinity Park. Pictured are Taylor Johnson, Crystal and Rwena Leva at last year's Ipswich event. Picture: NIGE BROWN (Image: Archant)