Leamington Peace Festival is back for another year

More than 35 bands or solo artists will perform at this year’s event, which takes place at the Pump Room Gardens on Saturday June 18 and Sunday June 19.

The acts will cover a wide range of genres from tango to folk, steampunk to singer-songwriters and pop to rock.

Highlights will include bouncy world music from 3 Daft Monkies, political songs and poetry from Rory McLeod, Atilla the Stockbroker and Punjabi singer Sonia Panesar.

Tash Daly, one of the festival’s directors, said: “We can’t wait until the festival this year, after ten months of planning, nothing beats the feeling when the public start to arrive, the first band starts up and you see everyone’s smiling faces.

“It’s a really rewarding event to be part of and we are still looking for volunteers to join us and help over the weekend for a few hours.”

Festival goers can expect colourful displays at the dance arena, with break dancers, belly dancers, street dancers showcasing their talents.

For those seeking relaxation or indulgence there will be free yoga and tai chi classes and a chocolate tasting workshop at the Activities Tent.

Youngsters can enjoy den building and the visit of Jan’s Blackboard Van at The Kids’ Zone.

Shoppers can browse the festival’s many stalls and buy items such as homemade jewellery, Mexican hammocks, and handmade pottery.

Jane Ingall, a festival committee member who, along with her friend Cath McGlone, had the unenviable job of allocating stalls and charity pitches, said: “This year has seen a particularly high level of applications with over 220 for just 120 available pitches.

“Selecting the final stalls has been a very difficult process and we try and achieve the right balance in the products available for sale but also in welcoming new stalls while at the same time retaining the popular stalls that people come to see each year.

“This year more emphasis has been placed on ethically-sourced goods and Fairtrade products and we have ‘thought local’ when assessing applications.

“We hope we have selected the broadest mix of products and charity stalls which reflects the festival’s aim of promoting peace and equality between people and nations and living in harmony with the environment while providing a little something to tempt the eye”.

Anybody who is interested in volunteering can email [email protected]