A WEEKEND of poetry, arts and crafts, and music in support of the Labour party is taking place in Stroud this weekend.

Entitled Red Alert!, it features gigs, an arts and craft session and a spoken word event.

Starting this evening (Friday), some of Stroud's best known poets will be reading poems and performing funny sketches in a living room setting created at the new Labour election shop on King Street in Stroud (opposite Merrywalks).

Poets include Jonny Fluffypunk, Adam Horovitz, Elvis MCGonagall, Stuart Butler, Helena Petre and Jaqui Stearn.

The event is free and starts at 8pm.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be a free arts and craft event for families, from 2pm. This is also taking place at the Labour election shop on King Street.

On Saturday evening, the Labour election shop will be filled with live music, from 6pm to 11pm.

The line up includes: Thee Ones, Mr Marco’s Outer Space Emporium, Felix Jupiter, DJ Rudi, and the Global Beats DJs.

Music will range from acoustic, to retro futuristic space rave, with soul, jazz and 60s Hammond beats too. 

Entitled ‘You got the Power: Register to Vote‘, the evening will focus on encouraging people to register to vote.

Printed forms and online access will be available in order that people can register to vote before the registration deadline of November 26. The event is free.

On Sunday, at the Prince Albert in Rodborough, the Bob Porter Project with the the Peekies rounds off the weekend in Americana style in a Turn Left at the Albert event. Entry £5 at 7.30pm.

All the musicians and DJs taking part are supporting David Drews bid to be re-elected.

Here is what some of them are saying:

"We are playing this gig so we can show our support for David Drew and the excellent work he does as our local MP," said Mark Thompson from Mr Marco’s Outer Space Emporium.

"Local musicians coming together to help promote this message is a great thing."

Nick Buckle from the Thee Ones said: "We believe that it is imperative at this dark hour to bring forth the glow of democratic socialism via the form of abstract sound and modern dance."