Soaking up the sounds (From Gazette Series)

Soaking up the sounds

ORGANISERS of the Dursley Town Festival have pulled off something of a coup by attracting a leading ska/punk band to play at the week-long event.

Tewkesbury-based band Spunge will play at Lister Hall thanks to the hard work of 15-year-old Lydia Williams, from Dursley.

Knowing that the festival committee was looking for ideas, Lydia handed over a letter inviting the band to the festival after seeing them play at a concert last month.

She said: "They were very keen to come down and, after speaking to their agent, we were able to confirm them for the festival."

Spunge, who have appeared on music channels P-Rock, Scuzz! and Kerrang!, will perform a 90-minute set, supported by three local bands YXP, In Blue Jeans and Alex's Band.

Having persuaded Spunge to come to Dursley, Lydia has also played a major part in the design of T-shirts, posters and tickets for the event.

She added: "Because the charts are full of rubbish from people like Will Young and The Cheeky Girls, some people won't have heard of Spunge.

"They aren't mainstream but they are big in their field and I can definitely say that they will be the biggest band to come to Dursley in my lifetime."

The festival committee hope to have the tickets for the concert, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 7, on sale early next week.

Fifty of the 300 tickets have already been pre-booked, but the rest are available through the festival committee or through year 11 at Rednock School.