BAR managers have praised the organisers of the Swindon Shuffle music festival.

The UK’s biggest unsigned music festival saw local bands playing across 11 stages in the town at the weekend.

The festival was in its third year, and this year extended the amount of acts involved from 40 to 60.

David Young, the landlord of The Vic, in Old Town, and The 12 Bar, in Kingshill, said: “I think the Swindon Shuffle did more for Swindon than the Big Weekend.

“The Big Weekend rolled into town and that was the end of it — it didn’t really involve the local music scene much.”

Acts performed at The 12 Bar on Friday and The Vic on Saturday.

“The music was excellent during the Swindon Shuffle – you could not fault it,” said Mr Young.

“The highlight for me was Old School Tie at The VIc.

“They had the whole place going nuts. There was a great atmosphere.”

On Saturday The Alfonz played on the BBC Introducing Stage in Wharf Green as part of the festival.

The manager of town centre venues The Rolleston and The Furnace – who would only give his name as Arry – said he was pleased with how the festival was organised.

He said: “Obviously people really enjoyed it or we would have been empty. Anything that encourages live music in Swindon is worthwhile.

“We hosted the festival on Saturday in both venues and I was running between both of them. Everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

“It was a big event but the organisers did extremely well.

“They made sure everybody had the right equipment and everyone played to the correct times.”

Music promoters Paul Jellings and Rich Millin, who are on the Swindon Shuffle Committee, also decided to broaden the genre to include dance music this year.

For information visit: theswindonshuffle.moonfruit.com