If you enjoyed Hitchin’s highly-acclaimed musical festival Rhythms of the World, brace yourselves for a new entrant on the scene.

James Pyrah, 21, through his company Know Your Culture Management, has decided to organise a music festival for new music next summer called Fort Fest – and will be holding a free live music event at The George pub in Bucklersbury to raise awareness of next year’s festival, and offer local bands a platform to perform.

The 21-year-old told the Comet: “I’m putting together a festival with friends for Hitchin called Fort Fest. It’s raiisng awareness of a much under celebrated scene of new musicians and bands from Hitchin and the surrounding areas.

“I hope it will be a platform for letting these and more acts be heard instead of having to travel to London for a show, as well as the opportunity to take it to the fields for 2016.

“Ford Fest at The George is being organised through Know Your Culture Management and run along similar lines to the planned festival.

“My house mate and I Cal McKinney both agreed there was a lack of DIY music events on artists we liked in the area so we decided to start our own small company to put on house party shows for artists including touring USA rockers Twin Peaks in Liverpool’s Bombed Out Church with more than 600 people attending.

“Now I’m back home from Liverpool I finally have the know-how to put on Fort Fest with a group of friends who all want the same thing for Hitchin – which is what I’ve wanted to do in Hitchin since I was 18. Now I’m 21 we’re hoping to take it to the fields next summer and turn it into a small DIY camping music festival for 2016 on our friends farm in Weston.

“Fort Fest at The George will be on Saturday, September 5 from 2pm to 3am. There will be a Barn Stage outside for bands, an inside area for acoustic sessions and DJs and a Courtyard Stage.

“It’ll be headlined by local act Bad Breeding, a punk band doing very well from Stevenage, as well as Moats, who recently played Austin City Limits after winning an NME competition.

“It’s great the Comet is supporting us. It’s a great community paper I read every week, and to have the chance for other readers to hear about our inaugural event is amazing. I’m really excited about Fort Fest, and getting people involved in the new music scene in Hitchin.

Fort Fest takes place at The George from 2pm to 3am on Saturday, September 5.

Visit KYCM’s Facebook page to find out more.