Excitement is mounting among Ross-on-Wye festival-goers as the town gears up for its fourth Jamstand music event.
On Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, well over 5,000 people are expected to descend on Ross to experience the two-day free festival.
Run as a charity by young volunteers, it came on the scene in 2007 following the demise of the Ross International Festival.
Jack Baldus and friends, a group of music-loving teenagers from Ross-on-Wye, decided they were sick of the lack of opportunity for musical expression in the town.
So they organised an impromptu gig for themselves and other local acts through social-networking sites. They called it Jamstand after the bandstand on the banks of the Wye.
Jamstand enters its fourth year as a newly-registered charity of which Jack Baldus is director.
Head of marketing Laura Melia said: “Performances are from a wide range of local unsigned bands alongside international acts such as Roots Manuva.
“The Jamstand ethos is to showcase local talent. Jamstand is a fantastic excuse for our dispersed rural community to come together and enjoy a free, creative environment.”
She added: “Jamstand has already enabled young local DJ’s to share the decks with DJ Yoda and the plan is to grow bigger and better whilst always remaining true to itself, year on year.”
“This is the perfect chance for local businesses to actively support a fantastic community event and give centre stage to the best upcoming musicians and artists in the region.”
As well as the three stages and secret disco, there are Art displays from Hereford Arts College and a crafts fair.
Acts this year include: Hip-Hop trio Ugly Duckling; Roots Manuva, UK Funk/Soul group The Haggis Horns; Cantaloop; Bristol Reggae artists Laid Blak; Dr Meeker as well as world music 5-piece Baraka and 7-piece Ska band First Degree Burns; Ross-on-Wye’s Dandelion Killers, UK dance act Subsource and Jack’s own Funk/Dance/Groove 7-piece Zang Tang.
Warp n Woof DJ collective of Herefordshire are hosting the DJ tent across the both days. For more information email Jack@jamstand.co.uk or Jamstand@Publicist.com
