HUNDREDS of people turned out for the sixth Guiseley Music Festival held in aid of charity at The Station pub in Guiseley on Bank Holiday Sunday.

New local MP Stuart Andrew was among the crowds who turned out to enjoy some great music and to support the Royal British Legion and the Yeadon Air Training Corps.

The Legion’s volunteers were out and about amongst the crowd and collected over £600 for their cause. They also manned a stall selling Royal British Legion items.

Their volunteers included ex-servicemen and they were introduced to Mr Andrew by the festival organiser Tony McCaul, manager of The Station.

The Yeadon Air Training Corps band started off the entertainment before changing from their dress uniform to take over their fund-raising role manning the barbecue. Their efforts saw them make £500 for their funds.

First on stage was Yeadon blues musician Martin with a completely unrehearsed band named The Antiques Road Show, possibly after band member Gary Don, the Radio Leeds antiques expert. The band was due to be named Three Men and Gloria but a last minute change to the line-up brought a name change!

As a complete contrast in age the next performer on stage was talented Yeadon singer/songwriter Marc Otway. The 20 year-old Leeds College of Music student showed no nerves as he performed before his biggest crowd yet and he got a warm reception playing both his own songs and a few covers accompanying himself on both guitar and piano.

The talented young musician has this week received a commendation for his entry – one of 5,000 – in the UK Songwriting Competition.

Marc was disappointed not to have reached the semi-finals of the competition but after writing for just a year time is on his side.

Marc is a very talented all-round performer and he has already had experience of different genres having started out as a 14-year-old drummer with a grunge band, moving on to becoming a singer/guitarist with a metal band and then progressing to find his niche as a solo performer with some excellent self-penned songs already in his locker.

More young talent was on view with festival favourites Top Notch again going down a storm.This mostly teenage band have built themselves a big reputation at Guiseley festivals.

Ilkley band Clear with their two excellent female vocalists again provided a highlight.

Experienced bands De Silva and Contraband clearly have a big following and they paved the way for headliners The Dunwell Brothers Band who were fresh from performing in Gloucestershire the previous night and at a Halifax festival in the afternoon.

As always these local favourites produced a polished set of mostly self-written material – much of which will be on their first album later this year.

With a number of festivals now under their belts and with festivals playing alongside Bob Dylan at Hop Farm in Kent and in Paris coming up they have certainly got into the swing of it to provide a real party atmosphere.

The next Guiseley Music Festival at The Station will be in August and will be primarily in aid of Help for Heroes.

lTHE Dunwell brothers staged their own music festival at Bojangles Wine Bar in Pudsey on Bank Holiday Monday in aid of Martin House Hospice. Opening the event was Yeadon vocalist Tamar Hall and her newly-formed band Claymore Avenue making their first public appearance.

The band includes Yeadon songwriter Adam Prince on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Adam also plays bass guitar with Yeadon band South View Juniors. Tamar and her band are signed to the independent Pappa Creff label along with The Dunwell Brothers Band who headlined this festival.

The Yeadon-Guiseley based Claymore Avenue also includes Kyle Metcalf on bass, Sam Smith on guitar and Chris Dickinson on drums.