Bumper crowds expected at festival (From Stroud News and Journal)

Bumper crowds expected at festival

RECORD crowds are expected for the Fringe Festival in Stroud this week.

The fun begins this evening with famous folksters Decameron playing in the Subscription Rooms and the launch of an art exhibition in The Old Town Hall.

Events throughout the week include theatre, dance, song, a ceilidh, country music, jazz and comedy.

There will also be street entertainment, concerts, markets and a procession as well as a children's festival.

Big names such as Tony Benn (Sunday), Lonnie Donegan (Thursday), Dr Feelgood (Friday) and Dougie Maclean (Friday) are expect to attract packed houses but just as popular with Stroud audiences will be the clog dancing of Roughshod (Saturday) and late-night comedy from Fred Wedlock, Frank Robb and The Chipolatas (Saturday and Sunday).

Organisers are predicting 20,000 people will turn up for the popular festival during the course of the week.

"That will be something of a record for us," said the fFestival's Beth Whittaker.

"Tickets for the main acts are going really fast, which is brilliant, but in previous years people have found they can usually turn up on the night and still get in.

"We'd advise people to book in advance this year."

Tickets and programmes for the performances are available from the Tourist Information Centre in the Sub Rooms or by calling 01453 760960.