GALLERY It was second time lucky for the organisers of Stowmarket's biggest music weekend of the year - despite fears last week that they could be heading for a Sunday washout.

IT WAS second time lucky for the organisers of Stowmarket's biggest music weekend of the year - despite fears last week that they could be heading for a Sunday washout.

Daniel Harvey, an organiser of StowFest, hailed yesterday's event a real success - noting the dry conditions after the original event was cancelled due to persistent rain in May.

He said: “It went really well, there were a lot of people that turned up. After having to cancel it in May due to the weather - and the original forecast for today - we had been worried but it was great, the weather was so nice.

“There were lots of young people here as we had lots of younger bands playing; everyone seemed to really enjoy it.”

Stowfest came the day after the seventh Traditional Music Day at the Museum of East Anglian Life. Between them the two events drew thousands of visitors.

With good weather for most of the weekend audiences flocked to enjoy all types of performances from folk, blues and country to rock and pop.

At the Museum of East Anglian Life on Saturday musicians, singers and dancers featured in a packed programme of traditional folk music.

Katie Howson, one of the organisers of the event - which was opened by Stowmarket mayor Ann Whybrow, said: “It was a fantastic day, the museum was alive with music everywhere you went - every corner you turned there was somebody singing, dancing or playing.

“It was great to see the amount of people taking part and trying new things, not just being an audience.”

The event featured the biggest annual gathering of stepdancers, an informal version of tap dancing, as well as a barn dance, singing sessions and a large music session featuring fiddles, concertinas, melodeons and dulcimers.

Visitors enjoyed all the attractions of the museum, as well as craft, dance, storytelling and musical activities for children.