FESTIVALGOERS and non-festivalgoers alike are being urged to make sure Redditch Council knows what people think of this weekend’s Morton Stanley Festival.

Three surveys launch on Friday (Aug 17) at redditchbc.gov.uk/consultations, for people who went to the festival, people who didn’t, and people who contributed to it as an artist, community group, or business.

Last year around 300 people responded to the surveys hopefully leading to improvements to the acoustic tent and the booking of Hazel O’Connor.

Councillor Mike Rouse, Redditch Borough Council’s portfolio holder for leisure and tourism, said: “We ask everyone for their views because Morton Stanley Festival is for the whole community and we want to keep improving it.

"The festival’s planning group involves people and groups from across Redditch and this year’s event is better than ever thanks to everyone’s feedback.

"People need to keep having their say: if you don't tell us we can't address it.”

Of the replies last year 82 per cent rated Morton Stanley Festival as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ overall with just 4 per cent rating it lower than ‘good’.

22 per cent of respondents were newcomers to the event, and 31 per cent said they had found out about the festival on social media.

Over 90 per cent of attendees were from Redditch, with the farthest away being a livestream watcher from Texas in the USA.

An estimated 8,500 people attended last year’s Morton Stanley Festival.

It is free entry this Saturday and Sunday (August 18-19) 12pm to 10pm and 12pm to 7pm in Morton Stanley Park, Redditch.

Saturday’s lineup sees 28 acts scheduled to perform including Matrix Club Matrix, Hazel O’Connor and Last Hounds, and on Sunday there are another 19 acts with headliners Elvis Fontenot and Hollie Vee & The Hubkaps.

There are also DJs, pop-up acoustic performances, street food and licensed bar, a funfair, festival stalls, and a firework display on the Saturday night.