A Norfolk blues festival is getting quite a name for itself as people worldwide visit to enjoy five days' worth of music.
Dereham Blues Festival was hosted across the town between July 5 to 9, as 55 acts from across the globe played for thousands of people in 16 venues.
It was the ninth festival hosted in the last 11 years. It opened with Grammy-nominated Danielle Nicole and her band at the memorial hall, supported by local up-and-coming guitar and vocalist 19-year-old Ross Stewart from Long Stratton.
Doreen Aitken, the festival secretary said the team of volunteers behind the event are delighted: “The feedback has been superb, it got its own momentum, it's known on the national circuit and aboard.
"I spoke to people from the north of England to a man from Holland, and even heard that some women were over from the USA.
“I think it's so successful because we keep it to blues. We vet the bands for their ‘bluesy’ feel which keeps them on track.
"Blues is a broad term but if people want to come to a blues festival and hear blues in all its best forms then Dereham is the place to come.
“We are over the moon. It's not an easy festival and it didn’t fall into place.
"We had some problems, even last-minute problems like a band’s van breaking down, but we got them here and borrowed equipment to get them on stage.”
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That band was Santiago and The Soulmovers, which Mrs Aitken said was one of her highlights. Other standout acts were Jed Potts and the Hillman Hunters and Used Blues, both from Scotland.
Attention is already turning to next year’s edition, which will be the 10th time the festival has been held.
Organisers said they wanted to thank event sponsors Minors and Brady, Dereham Taxis, Orchard Caravans, Quote Four, and Stephenson Smart Accountants.
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