THOUSANDS of music fans flocked to Upton-upon-Severn at the weekend for the 30th annual jazz festival.
The riverside town was awash with party-goers who travelled from all over the world to watch world-renowned jazz bands.
Record ticket sales, bumper crowds and hot temperatures helped the festival post one of its best years yet.
A New Orleans-style Mardi Gras parade went through the streets, while the Festival Village was lined with colourful flags and dozens of trade stands and food and drink stalls.
Treasurer Roger Sutton, who lives in the town, helped launch the event 30 years ago and said this year’s four-day festival was the pick of the bunch.
“It is difficult to pick highlights,” he said. “But Sticky Wicket and ‘boogie woogie’ man Carl Sinclair were amazing.
“We are now attracting bands from outside the country, who know what we are about and want to be part of it.
“Plans are afoot for next year’s festival and feedback from this year’s ticket-holders will be taken on board to plan the 2016 programme.
“It is going to be even better than this year, and that is saying something.”
