CROWDS rocked out to a bumper programme of music played by over a hundred musicians at this year’s Lyme Regis Jazz & Blues festival over the long Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Despite the unpredictable weather, enthusiastic festival-goers enjoyed hours of free concerts on the seafront featuring local musicians spanning a wide spectrum of jazz and blues as well as a rolling programme of music at The Pilot Boat Inn.

And music makers of all ages got their X Factor moment at B Sharp’s annual Busking Festival which ran throughout the town on Saturday.

Meanwhile at Marine Theatre, capacity audiences were treated to headline concerts by some of the best live acts in the country. The weekend opened with the UK’s No 1 swing band, The Jive Aces, and finished with Wille & The Bandits, breaking off their European tour to play a headlining finale. And big band Swing Unlimited All Stars brought Count Basie to town with an uplifting set of swinging classics.

Predictably Ruby Turner stole the limelight after playing a spell-binding concert to a packed auditorium.

Julie Sheppard, the festival director, said: “Ruby delivered a completely electrifying performance. She sang the classic “I’d Rather go Blind” and you could literally hear a pin drop – a completely goose-bump moment. Many said it was one of the best concerts they’d ever been to”.

She added: “This was our most successful festival to date both in terms of the quality of music on offer and the large appreciative crowds. Apart from our headline acts, most of the musicians live locally which proves what a rich pool of talent we have right here on our doorstep.

“We’d like to thank all our volunteers and those behind the scenes who helped make the festival such a success including our partners, Lyme Regis Arts Fest and B Sharp, Lyme Regis Town Council, Alan Vian, The Pilot Boat Inn, and staff at the Tourist Information Centre and Marine Theatre. Adam Sweet deserves a special mention for running the seafront stage with apparent effortless ease as well as playing several times over the weekend. But most of all we’d like to thank all the musicians who came to play – because in the end, it’s all about the music."