Last updated at 07:30, Friday, 04 May 2012

Organisers of Workington’s first ever Nuts in May music festival hope to attract more than 1,000 people this weekend.

The three-day event at Stainburn, headlined by 80s stars Nik Kershaw and Hazel O’Connor, starts tonight.

The festival is the brainchild of Alwyn and Joanne Braniff, of Stainburn Road, who recruited a team of experienced organisers who previously worked on the Solfest music festival.

Mrs Braniff said that festival traffic had started arriving yesterday lunchtime to reduce congestion.

She added: “There are no road closures in the area and there is also a minibus service to Stainburn and Great Clifton at the end of each night.”

Around 15 volunteers have been putting the final touches to the site and its six stages in 50 acres of woodland at Middlemoor.

There will also be a large children’s area and food traders from Cumbria and beyond.

Mr Braniff said: “Everything’s on course and it looks like the weather will be good.

“Ticket sales have gone really well. We had a surge on Monday because of the nice weather and we’ve reached around 800.

“We’re hoping the festival will bring more people to the area to help the local economy.”

Nik Kershaw will perform with his four-piece band tomorrow night as part of a showcase of 1980s stars, folk legends and festival favourites.

Acts over the weekend include Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash and folk heroes Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick.

Tickets are £34 for adults, £20 for 12 to 17-year-olds and free for accompanied under-11s. Tickets are available at the Carnegie Theatre.

For more details visit www.nutsinmayfestival. co.uk

First published at 06:10, Friday, 04 May 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk