A VETERAN festival organiser is busy making the arrangements for a threeday feast of music to be held this summer.

Top Midlands jazz drummer and events organiser Alan Buckley is already laying the foundations for the second jazz festival to be held in the Herefordshire town of Bromyard.

The music legend – known throughout the business as ‘Sir’ – has organised more than 40 festivals throughout central England, including 27 at Upton-upon-Severn.

Now he has once again set his sights on historic Bromyard, where he will be staging a long weekend of jazz and other types of music.

And not only will there be sessions at various venues across the town, but also street parades and a church service with a gospel theme.

Mr Buckley said: “Bromyard resident and music fan Mike Cresswell followed the progress of our festivals for years and asked if I could organise one in the town.

“So we went to take a look around and settled on the Falcon Hotel, an ideal place to consolidate a programme of events.

“Last year, this came to fruition and we staged the first festival.

“It was a success and attracted a lot of attention.”

This year’s festival – to be held on August 17, 18 and 19 – will see a wide variety of bands playing a broad spectrum of music. It will start at noon on the Friday and end at 6pm on the Sunday.

A New Orleans-style marching parade – led by festival favourite Dutch band Lamarotte – will set off through the town at 11.30am on the Saturday and a service will be held on Sunday at St Peter’s Church.

Numerous sessions will be held at the Falcon Hotel and a marquee will also host a number of bands.

Mr Buckley has been a musician all his life and owns one of the largest collections of drums in the world, which he has exhibited across the world.

For more details and ticket information about the Bromyard Carnival of Jazz Festival, contact 01922 630779 or e-mail siralandrums@btinternet.

com.

‘Early bird’ ticket deals of £40 per person plus £20 camping will be available for jazz fans who book early.

For credit card bookings, call 01885 483034.