A NUMBER of top up-and-coming artists will descend on Stourbridge’s River Rooms this weekend for a new musical venture.

Fred Fest, an ‘all ages gig’, will give stage time to 13 local acts as well as two headliners at the Mill Race Lane venue this Bank Holiday.

Between 3pm and 10pm on Monday (May 30), two stages will be packed full of music, featuring a set from Dutch indie band Lesoir, with Fred Fest being the last gig of their UK tour.

Signed to V2 and touring their 3rd album, Lesoir have just completed a tour in China where they were playing the main stages at major festivals in front of 120,000.

They will also be bringing another signed band “The Sum Of” to play Fred Fest, alongside local acts including Plastic Scene, Beyond the Bay, Falling out of Favour and Chawn Hill.

“It will have the same fun and atmosphere as a normal Fred M gig but it will be on a bigger scale!!. It just started off as a throw away comment by a friend and it has escalated into this exciting event”

Fred Mallinson, event organiser, who over the past few years has given opportunities for young local bands to provide the support slots to artists including The Hoosiers, The Struts, Dexters and Eliza Doolittle, said: “It will have the same fun and atmosphere as a normal Fred M gig but it will be on a bigger scale.

“It just started off as a throw away comment by a friend and it has escalated into this exciting event.

“All we need now is the sun and a great turn out. Food, drinks, great bands, great music and lots of fun will be provided.

“As per usual, the famous ‘Fred M charity bucket’ will make an appearance.”

Tickets, costing £3 in advance or £4 on the door, can be purchased by visiting www.theriverrooms.com