REVELLERS are excited for the return of Woo Fest - a Worcester music festival for all ages with the goal of raising money for St Richard's Hospice. 

The festival was first launched in 2015 by Luke Simons and his sister Ria Simons after their father John passed away at St Richard's Hospice in 2013. 

The festival will take place on July 1 and 2 at the Drum and Monkey in Upton upon Severn. 

Mr Simons said: "It's looking really good this year. 

"We have two stages, we are running music all day on Saturday and we have four acts on Friday. There are 18 acts in total.

"There's camping and it's on an actual campsite so there are no portaloos, there are actual toilet facilities and showers.

"We want the festival to appeal to all ages so there's a real variety of genres of music - covers and originals. 

"There will be a World War 2 Hurricane flying over on Saturday as part of the festival.

"Every penny from the festival will be going to St Richard's Hospice, any unavoidable costs for the festival have been covered by sponsors so food providers have donated everything.

"For example, The Butcheress has given us meat for the whole festival. 

"We have just over £85,000 so far, so we are confident that we can get over the £100,000 mark."

Mr Simons explained that his dad was a massive music fan and that their family would spend lots of time at gigs together, making the festival a special memorial to him.

Mr Simons added: "My sister and I started the festival, dad was cared for by St Richard's Hospice and we wanted to do a memorial and a send off for him.

"The first festival we held was just for family and friends really and it's just grown from there. 

"This is our eighth festival, the last two have been virtual due to covid in an online, comic relief style with people phoning in to give donations. 

"We are currently the best, small festival in the UK according to the UK festival awards which haven't been held since 2019 so we're still claiming that title.

"We are really excited to be back after the last two years.

"Ticket sales are better than they have ever been before.

"People really want to get out and watch live music and we're an affordable festival for people as well."

To buy tickets, visit www.strichards.org.uk/event/woo-fest.