MORE than a thousand people basked in the sunshine listening to Swindon’s top talent at the fourth Sugarhill Festival, Liddington.

The festival, held at Warren Farm on Friday and Saturday, rolled out local acts from Not Rocket Science to The Alfonz as visitors supped real ale on tap at pop-up pub The Sugarhill Arms.

The main stage on Saturday played host to 16 acts including Jetpack, Patchwork Prophets, The Disco Pierats, The Costellos, Sleeping with Giants, Zoidberg, Screaming 88’s and the headliner closing the show New Young Pony Club.

Festival secretary Claire Dovey, said: “We’ve had a few re-inventions of the festival over the last four years and decided to make it more family orientated for 2010.

“I think the mix has worked because we have had 1,500 people during the day and some coming over after the Mela so it’s been great.”

The festival took time out after 2007’s rains left the September event, a wash-out.

“That cost us dear both in holding the festival, the losses we incurred and then the damage so we learned a few lessons and came up with this.

“Over the years it’s been all sorts. It was a blues event at one point but our focus has been on showcasing Swindon talent so you’ll always find the vast majority of Swindon bands which are here.”

Bands Mundo Pequeno, New College has Talent and Disclosure held a captive audience at The Sugarhill Arms with performers Charlie Baxter, Ali Finneran and Zoe Mead carrying the audience into the afternoon.

Beehive favourites Pignose gave a 30 minute set followed by Shannon Saunders, Theo Altieri and Becca De La Musique.

Not Rocket Science drummer Matt Fiddes said the festival was easy-going.

“It’s good to play a gig near home where you have quite a big audience and get to listen to other bands from your area,” he said.

“This has been a good run-up to Festival on the Farm which we’ve got coming up soon too.”

For more details about Sugarhill Festival visit www. sugarhillfestival.co.uk.