THE biggest annual event in Redditch’s social calendar, Morton Stanley Festival, is just around the corner.

The event, featuring a host of musical talent as well as a food festival and numerous other stalls, takes place next weekend.

Headline acts for this year's festival were recently announced as Sam and the Womp, and festival regulars, Gypsy Hill.

London-based band Sam and the Womp, fronted by Sam Ritchie and Bloem de Ligny, have returned with a new sound after selling more a million copies worldwide and taking the number one slot for their debut single 'Bom Bom' in August 2012.

Gypsy Hill, which plays a mixture of Balkan brass, Mediterranean surf rock, ska and swing featuring guitars, horns, tuba, a scratch DJ and a mix of live and electronic beats has an impressive tour history including Glastonbury, Bestival and Fusion.

Councillor Pat Witherspoon, whose portfolio covers leisure services, said: "I for one will be down at Morton Stanley Festival tapping my feet and enjoying the wide range of musical talent on show.

"The annual festival gets bigger each year and is now at a stage where we can attract big international acts as well as giving the local community a chance to take to the stage. This is what makes our festival truly unique and is something to be really proud of in Redditch."

A wide variety of live music as well as other activities including craft stalls, a mini food festival, children’s activities and a climbing wall, arranged by the army recruitment team, will be put on during the event.

The festival is on between Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 at Morton Stanley Park.

For more information on the event, visit redditchbc.gov.uk.