Grooves on the Green at Ashley Cross will feature locally-based tribute acts Oasiss, The Few Fighters, Stereoironics and Inspired by Adele

GROOVES on the Green community music festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend with a top line-up of tributes and local bands.

Taking place in Ashley Cross this Friday to Sunday, the much-loved community shindig has raised more than £50,000 for local charities.

Headlining Grooves on the Green are locally-based tribute acts Oasiss, the Few Fighters, Stereoironics and Inspired by Adele.

The festival will also showcase the very best from Hampshire and Dorset’s vibrant music scene including Volatile Agents, the medical marvels whose line-up includes doctors, surgeons, theatre medics and a member of the judiciary.

Also appearing are crack ska band Rat Race, skiffle masters Quinns Quinney, rock hero Chris Payn and covers band Brass Monkeys, as well as Kingsmen, BH-Rock, Romanzas, Running Wylde and Andy O’Sullivan.

DJ Allan Turner-Ward will oversee the action as MC and there will be fairground fun for families. The Kidz Zone will feature Krazy Kev, Little Gizmos, Squidge & Pop, circus workshops, Jamie Jigsaw, Minkie Moos, and the marvellous Mr Merlin.

It’s now 25 years since Ashley Cross business owner Jan Crump had the idea of putting on a charity music festival on the open space at the heart of the community, with the first three-day festival taking place last year.

Jan said: “With it being our 25th anniversary we want to make the greatest Grooves ever so we’re going right back to our roots with a music line-up that is all local, stall holders that are all local, and kids’ entertainers that are all local.”

In recent years Grooves on the Green has raised in the region of £50,000 for Diverse Abilities Plus to enable the charity to continue its invaluable work supporting children and adults with physical and learning disabilities.

Festival-goers can enjoy the ever-popular Bricklayers Bar and Groove Garden Bar, along with soft drinks, Pimm’s and coffees. A range of local caters will also offer tasty treats.

Grooves on the Green runs from 4pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. To find out more visit groovesonthegreen.com/tickets