MUSIC-lovers were treated to an annual festival extravaganza as the popular Kelvedon Music Festival took place at the weekend.

The event was held on Saturday at the recreation ground in The Chase, High Street.

Hundreds of people turned up to watch a host of local bands take to the two stages.

Headlining the day were The Hamsters, a popular blues-rock band.

The guitar, bass and drums trio has long been established as one of the UK’s premier live attractions, having performed more than 4,000 concerts in 24 years.

Southend’s finest have been voted one of the UK’s best unsigned bands by music magazine Kerrang and band members have performed with artists including Eric Clapton, Alison Moyet and Status Quo.

Other bands entertaining the crowds included Optimus Prime, Angry vs The Bear, We are Embassy, Red Faced Robots, Vellocetta and New Town Kings.

Organisers said local company Colchester Kitchens had come to their rescue, helping to keep the festival free by sponsoring the day.

Also performing were the band Raise These Sails, the winners of the annual Kelvedon Free Music Festival Battle of the Bands held in March.They saw off stiff competition from four other local school-age bands to win the coveted opening slot at this year’s festival.

Members of the six-piece “post hardcore rock” band attend either the Honywood School or Colchester Institute.