It’s the highlight of Kesgrave’s calendar; a day when everybody comes together to celebrate an inspirational woman taken from her family and friends far too early but whose impact on their lives will stay with them forever.

Kate Moyes was just 29 when she passed away in St Elizabeth Hospice 15 months after being diagonised with an aggressive form of cancer.

A live music lover, those who knew and loved her decided to organise the Kesgrave Music Festival as not only the perfect way to remember her, but to raise funds for the hospice.

Centred around the individual’s needs, staff provide specialist support whether it’s needed at home, in the community or at the hospice. The independent charity provides these services free of charge. Costing �6.6million a year to run, almost three quarters of this comes from the community.

This Saturday’s festival is one of several community events held in Kate’s memory and her fund currently sits at more than �80,000.

“I don’t think we’re prepared to stop until it gets to �100,000 and I know we’ll want to keep going. Kate was such a great inspiration to a lot of people. She was 29 when she passed away, nobody wants to imagine what that’s like for any family to deal with,” says co-festival co-ordinator Debbie McCallum of The Bell, who was a close friend of Kate’s.

“She’s given Kesgrave most of its events. People work hard, people have lots of things they do and it’s difficult to find time to organise things. When you’ve got a new town like Kesgrave we haven’t had time to develop it as a rooted community.

“What Kate’s done through the music festival, the easter egg hunt which attracted 175 children this year, the fun run which attracted more than 350 people, is bring the community together. These events aren’t taking years to grow they’re growing very quickly. They’ve all been inspired by Kate and her zest for life.”

The music festival is the day the community celebrates Kate. For just �5 a ticket, music lovers get more than 20 acts covering all areas of music spread over two stages.

“Year after year bands keep applying and I think it’s fantastic we’ve got such a good line-up and these guys come forward every year offering their services for free. They get a free drink and that’s it. We try to give everybody something to listen too, we’ve got some old favourites and different people in this year. Ed Sheeran performed here so it just shows you we’ve had some great artists sing at the festival.”

There will also be stalls and a funfair. However, due to development work at nearby Heath Primary School there’ll be less car-parking spaces this year.

“It’s fantastic it’s getting more classrooms built, but it means we’re going to be a few spaces down. My advice to anybody is please, if the weather’s good, walk and enjoy; car share, get the bus so you can at least have a few bevvies. I’m sure people will find somewhere to park but we ask if you do bring your car be mindful of the people living in the area.”

Held at Kesgrave Community Centre, the music starts at noon. Tickets are still available from The Bell Inn, Main Road, Kesgrave, or on the gate on the day.

Playing on the main stage are: Noon Caution Horses (pop), 1pm The Chocolate Fireguard Experience (70s nostalgia), 2pm The Outlines (rock-pop covers), 3pm Poesi, 4pm Out of Exile (pop), 5pm Matt White and The Emulsions (rock), 6pm Circa Fall (covers), 7pm You Two (U2 tribute), 8pm The A.M’s (indie rock-pop covers), 9pm Ska’d 4 Life (two-tone) and 10pm Bouncing Off Concrete (rock covers).

Playing in the Live Lounge are: 1pm Georgette and The Distractions (acoustic pop covers), 1.45pm Mc2 (acoustic original songs, traditional numbers and covers), 2.30pm Stu E Skinner (acoustic rock mixed with everthing from Celtic, eastern and classical to folk, blues, jazz and hip hop flavours), 3.30pm The Handsome Dead (rock), 4.30pm Asa Jennings (rock), 5.30pm Kev Walford (country), 6.30pm Rogue’s Cradle (pop punk-rock), 7.45pm Reb Capper (piano pop tinged with folk) and 9pm Benjamin Bloom (pop).