MUSIC fans packed into three venues over the weekend to listen to unsigned local artists perform during the final half of Swindon Shuffle 2010.

More than 50 bands and individual musicians played and sang over the four-day festival, which took place at The Victoria in Old Town, 12 Bar in Westcott Place and The Beehive in Prospect Place.

The extravaganza, which ran from Thursday until yesterday evening, featured some of the best known musicians in town as well as those just starting out.

Among those who played at The Victoria on Saturday were The Jon Trowbridge Band, who performed at the Wychwood Festival this year, as well as Good Things Happen in Bad Towns, Gaz Brookfield and Doza.

Singer and guitarist Tommaso Galati, 28, from Swindon, performed seven songs from his album, Mongrel.

He said: “The performance went well. It was a really good crowd and everyone was receptive so that was good.

“There were several other musicians in the audience and everyone got together and supported each other.”

This is the fourth year the festival has wowed the crowds and the aim was to show the best local acts around and encourage the new crop.

Former Shuffle headliners the Beatbullyz have gone on to support N-Dubz on tour and charted at number 26 in the BBC Radio 1 Dance Chart with their single Skills.

Last year the Shuffle was the biggest unsigned music festival in the UK, but this year organisers scaled back to regain the local focus and to revisit the ‘underground’ nature of the festival, which was popular with attendees.

Ken Kennedy, 36, from Old Town, one of the many punters in The Victoria on Saturday, said: “I think the Shuffle has been brilliant.

“It is a good showcase for local young talent and also some not-so-young talent.

“It think it is a good opportunity for people who are interested in music to get together to listen to some stuff and have a lot of fun.”

Door takings from the event will be donated to Heart FM’s Have a Heart appeal, which supports disadvantaged children, and the Goldenhar Family Support Group, which helps families of children suffering from Goldenhar Syndrome.