ALRESFORD Music Festival (AMF) is an independent, unique music and creative festival and one of the circuit’s best kept secrets and it's on this weekend!

AMF has built a reputation for making families and first time festival goers feel extra welcome, providing the perfect and safest place to enjoy some of the best and most varied music about.

The festival is also keen to provide a platform for young musicians from local schools and colleges to play on the big stage and has regularly showcased young artists to provide inspiration for the future stars.

Over 25 bands will play across five stages and AMF is renowned on the festival inner circuit for the quality and breadth of music and musicians taking part.

Originality, eclectic, multi genre and emerging, as well as established, talent means you’ll find bands you wish you’d uncovered sooner.

The dedicated Family Arena at the festival provides space and freedom for kids of all ages to roam safely yet within easy sight.

The big screen means that the main stages can be seen from anywhere in the arena and the performances enjoyed whatever festival goers are doing, whether bungee trampolining, climbing a colossal wall, being decorated with glitter, enjoying the theatre tent or dancing in front of one of the five stages of live music and performance.

There is a packed festival village, with a wide choice of tasty local and international food, a fine ale bar, cocktail bar and cider bars.

AMF, now in its ninth year, has rightly earned an enviable reputation for being the festival to be seen at and play at early summer.

The day is packed, but you can arrive early and camping is available both today and tomorrow nights so you don’t have to miss a second. The camp site is next to a trout stream and overlooks the South Downs – not bad for a festival you can walk to from the town, and a great backdrop if you are feeling a little fuzzy when you wake up!

There is music on around the town tonight too, including Soul Cellar where Acid Jazz label founder Eddie Piller plus guest DJs, Nobel & Heath and Double O Soul will be playing Northern Soul and rare 60s sounds.

And it’s dead easy to get to AMF...there are free shuttle busses from Winchester or Alton train stations to pick and return festival goers.

For more information, visit: www.alresfordmusicfestival.com.