WORCESTER'S first official music festival looks set to be a triumphant success.

With more than 50 bands already signed up and a host of venues offering their services, live music will echo around the city when the festival takes place in August.

The three-day event, between Friday, August 22 and Sunday, August 24, is being organised by self-professed local music lover Chris Bennion.

Mr Bennion hopes the festival will make people aware that Worcester has more to offer than Royal Worcester Porcelain and Lea & Perrins Worcester Sauce.

"We have about 20 venues at the moment," he said, adding they will range from coffee shops to bars and pubs. "We have a growing list of bands. It's now a case of matching them together.

"Figuring out which bands will be right for which venues and when."

Mr Bennion, who works at the Lea & Perrins factory by day and runs the Not Just Sauce website by night, hopes the festival will raise the profile of homegrown music.

There are already a number of well established live music events in the city, including a monthly blues night at the Cellar Bar in Foregate Street and acoustic evenings in various pubs. Worcestershire bands of all genres are being invited to take part.

"I had the idea for a festival about five years ago," said Mr Bennion.

"But it's only recently that I have found the time to sit down and seriously think about it. "When I approached a couple of people about the idea they said it was what Worcester needs and should have happened years go. So I thought, why not go for it."

Chris Jaeger, manager of Worcester Live has pledged his support for the Worcester Music Festival and it is now an official part of the Worcester Three Choirs Fringe Festival.

"The overall aim is to encourage live music in the city," said Mr Bennion.

Bands, venues, promoters and potential sponsors interested in the festival can find out more at www.worcestermusicfestival.co.uk or from Chris Bennion on 01905 731615 / 07847730145.

Artists and bands expected to play:
Fat Boys Are Harder To Kidnap (FBAHTK)
Revelation 23
Highway 5
10k Runner
Angelcyn
Cobweb Dilemmas
R&B Jones
The Donns
KOS
Meteor Street
And What Will Be Left Of Them
The Arquettes
Girls On Film
Epsilon Red
Meg
Mules Skinner Blues Band
The Midnight Movers
Ten Fifty
Rare Breed
Gamble Gamble
Corda
The Knowing
The Chance
The Dastards
The Brazilians
Harlem Dandy
Da Vinci
Dudes of Neptune
Malthouse Passage
Flat Pack Heroes
Crowded Out
New Age Classics
Aceldama
Slack Granny
Nathan & Quinn
Dissidence
The Oolites
Shane Husbands
George Clarke
Daniel Angelus
Paul J Rose
Jules Benjamin
Jamie Knight
Lou Richardson
Frankie
Steve Maitland
Wes Dance
Pippa Jennings
Carla Manganiello
DJ Geenius
Bruno Gallone