MUSIC lovers found a fantastic way to while away a summer's weekend at Bromsgrove Folk Club's 16th annual festival.

Bromsgrove Folk Festival, held at the Bowling Green pub, in Stoke Prior, from last Friday to Sunday, attracted hundreds of music lovers.

There were a host of top acts performing over the weekend with folk duo Show of Hands taking to the stage on Friday night, where there was standing room only.

Show of Hands are ever present in the BBC folk award nominations with Steve Knightley's fine writing and singing and Phil Beer's multi instrumental talents. They were joined by the ever-talented Miranda Sykes.

Bromsgrove Folk Club's resident band Fairfield were the first to take to the stage on Friday night after a welcome to the crowd from club chairman Yvonne Barton, who warned people to watch out for the mud outside and to hope and pray for sunshine for the rest of the weekend. Fairfield got the crowd into the festival spirit with their opening song of Singing in the Rain, this was followed by their music, which is a mix of traditional and contemporary folk, along with their humourous bantering.

Show of Hands took to the stage to much applause. Being a big fan of the band and having seen them perform many times, they have the ability to always give you something different each time you see them live. They are what live music is about and the reason for making sure that the music of our English heritage stays alive.

Despite a loud firework display outside and the sound of heavy rain on the marquee roof, the band were undeterred and played favourites including Santiago, Cousin Jack and Country Life, which had the crowd singing. These were mixed with Steve and Phil's humourous tales including one where Steve's sister was going out with a man from Bromsgrove called Mick, who was a mod, many years before. He had come to Devon to see her and bring Steve a guitar, but the couple split up so he never got his instrument.

The band finished off with a rousing performance of Roots and then a medley, which got them a standing ovation from the audience, who had been singing along all night.

Speaking to the Advertiser/Messenger after the performance folk club committee member Bob Bignell said it was a great start to the festival.

He added: "This is the second time we've had Show of Hands and we always put a big band on the Friday night. We are really pleased with how it went and everyone enjoyed themselves."

Over the weekend there were a host of other performers from traditional folk songs, to ballads and shanties. Bromsgrove Folk Club meets on the second and last Thursday of every month, at Catshill Workmen's Club, in Meadow Road, Catshill. For more details go to www.bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk