AN ANCIENT Dorchester monument is set to host a musical extravaganza for all ages.

Dorchester Town Council’s popular Bank Holiday weekend concert is set to return to Maumbury Rings on Monday, August 25.

The event is in its ninth year and organisers have lined up six top acts to play on the day, with the entertainment starting at 1.30pm and running on to 10pm.

Headline act the A Listers will be performing alongside Stompin’ Dave, Stress with Nina Garcia, Zoe Schwarz with Blue Commotion, the Mill Stream Jazz Band and Sylva.

Cllr Tony Lyall, who is chairman of the arts for the town council, said that, as with previous years, the line-up of bands would offer something for everyone on the day.

He said: “Again there is something for all the family.

“We have got great bands and there is music for everybody.”

Cllr Lyall, who has been involved with all ten concerts staged at Maumbury Rings by the town council, said that the event had become very popular with Dorchester residents and even those from further afield.

Like most of the events the town council has put on it is free of charge and, in the years the event has enjoyed good weather, it has attracted crowds of over 4,000 people.

Cllr Lyall said: “It’s been very successful.”

He added that he was pleased to get the A Listers back to headline the concert. They performed at a previous concert in Dorchester to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and, despite having to battle on through poor weather, went down very well with the crowd on the day.

Cllr Lyall said: “They did a super job and we’re pleased we’ve got them back – hopefully it won’t rain for them this time.”

Deputy town clerk Steve Newman encouraged people to come along and make a real day of the event at Maumbury Rings, which dates back to Neolithic times.

He said: “Bring along your picnic rig or chair, some friends, food and drink, and bring the summer to a close in Maumbury Rings, possibly the country’s oldest continuously used entertainment venue. And let’s pray for some sun.”

The town council concert will be the third event in as many days at Maumbury Rings over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The venue is hosting the Anonymous Festival from noon to 9pm on Saturday, August 23 and the sixth annual Love Parade the following day.