A PERSHORE pub landlord has teamed up with two icons of the 90s music scene to bring some bank holiday cheer to the town. 

 

The Star Inn is preparing to host the Edge of the River Festival on Saturday, August 28. In other years, this date would see the town thronging with visitors to the Plum Festival — which has been cancelled for the second year due to the pandemic.

 

The musical event in the Bridge Street pub’s riverside garden features Nigel Clark from Dodgy and Chris Helme from The Seahorses. Other performers will include Howard James Kenny, Josie Field and Riché.

 

Landlord Bruce Lawrence said: “I have known Nigel since I have been here at the pub. 

 

“We have always talked about doing something like this, and now with the optimism of coming out of covid restrictions we thought it was high time we got on and organised something to round off the summer. 

 

“It’s a shame the Plum Festival isn’t happening this year, but hopefully by doing this we can still help to attract some visitors to Pershore.”

 

The festival opens at 4pm and live music continues until 11pm. There will then be a short firework display before the evening winds down with a DJ until midnight.

 

The event will also feature a mini cider festival and food. 

 

Pershore resident Nigel Clark was lead singer and bassist of Dodgy, which rose to prominence during the Britpop era of the 1990s. The band’s hits included "Staying Out for the Summer", "If You're Thinking of Me" and “Good Enough”.

 

Born in Redditch, he currently works as a music teacher at The Aspire Academy in Worcester.

 

Chris Helme was the frontman of the alternative rock band The Seahorses, which was formed in 1996 by guitarist John Squire following his departure from The Stone Roses. The band had a string of hits and toured with Oasis in 1997.

 

Tickets, at £15 per person, are limited in number and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 

 

Pre-booking is essential by searching for “Edge of the River Festival” at ticketing website seetickets.com.