Free Festival in Lydiard Park

10:43am Saturday 10th May 2008

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Ncounter has announced a free festival for young people and families, to be held in Lydiard Park on the 12th July. The npower Rock the Planet festival will cater for over 1,000 people and is free to anyone from Swindon and North Wiltshire.

Festival sponsors npower will open the festival at 2 p.m., and festival-goers can participate in workshops, activities and competitions throughout the afternoon. From 6pm local bands will be on the main stage, and ncounter's own 4-piece girl band, Collective, will finish the evening will their own brand of high energy pop.

Hanna Koning, festival organiser for ncounter, said: In the weeks before the festival we're organising dance and craft workshops and a massive battle of the bands to chose the very best of local talent for the main stage at the festival. The day itself will give everyone the perfect opportunity to have fun, explore their own talents - whatever they are - and to see others getting on the stage, showing what's possible. We're really excited by the possibilities, and determined this will be a day to remember for a long time!' Themed around the 4 elements of classical Greek - earth, wind, fire and water - the afternoon will offer the chance to be in a fashion show, join dance and craft workshops and have a go at open air painting. For those who just want to chill there's a huge bouncy castle - and the chance to enjoy a good water fight or enter a team in the festival volleyball competition. On the main stage, dance workshops and performances in the afternoon will give way in the evening to performances by the 3 winners of the battle of the bands. Collective, ncounter's own band which tours secondary schools across the area, will finish the evening and the event with a high energy performance of their favourite songs.

Young people who want to join the main stage hip hop dance troupe, work alongside the organisers in getting stands and props organised and decorated, or want to enter the Battle of the Bands, can get details and register free at www.rocktheplanet.org.uk Alternatively, phone Hanna on 01793 849425.

The festival organiser, ncounter, is a regional charity with a Christian foundation, focused on education and performing arts. The festival is free courtesy of sponsorship by npower, the local electricity company headquartered in West Swindon.