Music, beer and a great vibe at Abbfest

Newton Abbot’s much-loved Abbfest is underway this weekend.

Taking place in the large field next to Fermoy’s Garden Centre in Ipplepen, the festival features live music, a huge range of local ales and ciders, a food village, celebrity chef demonstrations, craft stalls and family entertainment.

And it’s all for a good cause; Abbest is a registered charity, the team behind it are all volunteers, and the proceeds from the event are donated to deserving organisations.

In fact, the first Abbfest in 2004 was held to raise money for repairs to the parish church, and took place at Abbotskerswell Cricket Club. Since then it’s grown, evolved, and raised around £275,000 for local charities and community organisations.

Festival director Roy Blunt said local people have taken the festival to their hearts, and keep returning year after year: “People come back because Abbfest feels like their festival.

“It has probably one of the biggest line-up of fantastic chefs in the South West, great music and loads going on, but small enough that you can actually bump into people, talk to the performers and feel part of it.

“The bands love performing and ask to come back every year.”

Saturday will see a full programme of live cookery demonstrations, along with live music from The Rock Choir, The Chordettes, folk/rock acoustic singer Alex Dobson, Torquay funk/rock band Busta Groove, covers band One Foot in the Groove and pop/soul party band Electric Empire.

Sunday rounds off the weekend with Paws, Pints & Party, featuring the ‘DogFest’ canine competition and more live entertainment from Unity in Sound Community Choir, Exeter Jazz Orchestra, Totnes Ukulele Kollective and Grimspound Border Morris.

For full more details and ticket options visit www.abbest.org.