WITH the fringe festival coming up this weekend, Stroud can look forward to music, laughter and the other delights.

This year the festival promises to be bigger and better.

More than 150 bands are scheduled to play on one of the five stages.

The festival is organised by volunteers and has been for several years.

They even managed to get Bob Geldof to visit in 2002.

It is a fantastic opportunity to see Stroud differently.

This weekend will be full of colour, street artists, acid jazz and Nailsworth punk.

It is incredibly different from the once yearly Nailstock which has just one stage.

I myself have only seen glimpses of the fringe.

Last year I was able to see a friend's band before having to leave to go to a birthday party.

However, when I got to the party my friend was passed out on the sofa and I longed to be back in the buzz of Stroud as I had never seen it before.

The year before I was there briefly and only saw a man juggling and eating fire.

However, it seems this year I won't be able to see Stroud in this mad way.

On Friday night a friend turns 18, on Saturday I have to work and Sunday I should do some of my already growing pile of homework.

I hope everyone has a fantastic time, whether you are there for the music, the street theatre, the busy pubs, the street artists or just everything rolled into one.

It is definitely a good way to end the summer and start the autumn.