The Balstock charity music festival is all set to roar back into town for its 12th year this weekend, with Baldock ready to host more than 200 acts at 13 venues.

%image(15651332, type="article-full", alt=""Mother of Balstock" Elaine LaRoche, far right, who tragically died from cancer in April, with Marc Staniford and Becky Miller at Balstock 2015. Picture: John Francis")

Organiser G La Roche has put out the rallying cry for music lovers to turn out in their droves for the fiercely independent free festival, which is this year dedicated to his mum Elaine – who died from breast cancer earlier this year.

The main charity this year is the Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal, and shakers and buckets will be circulating aroud town to raise funds during the weekend.

G told the Comet: “This has been a very tough year to organise without mum around.

“The only thing we can do is put on a festival that’ll make her proud and, hopefully, raise enough to make whatever small difference we can against such a vile disease as breast cancer.

“This year’s line-up is absolutely outstanding. Baldock is in for a right treat, and I hope it’ll inspire young musicians and event organisers to pick up the torch, when the time comes.”

Baldock High Street is to play host to the London Road Presents: The Elaine LaRoche stage – with acts including Ritn Ditn, JoanOvArc, Indi & The Vegas, Darline and The Zipheads, plus many more.

Dotted around the High Street there will be all sorts of food kiosks and family entertainment.

Almost every pub in Baldock is taking part, with acts like Bubounce, Mark Sullivan, Midnight Drives, The Dan Bond Band, Gor Jus Wrex, Jesus Hooligan, Tisha Monique, Didi and No Sleep Til Bedtime.

There’s also a Burlesque Night down at Khoi Khoi on Friday night, an all-weekend metal stage in the old town hall, a DJ stage outside Delizia café on Saturday, and a family and youth stage in the Old White Hart on Sunday.

There will be a raffle to win a Balstock guitar, with the draw on Sunday in the High Street – as well as an auction for a bass guitar signed by German rockers Tantrum on Saturday at The Engine.

The Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal will receive half of all money raised in shakers, raffles and anything else that the pubs, businesses and music festival itself can donate.

The other 50 per cent of the money raised will be split between the North Herts Sanctuary, the Herts Women’s Centre, the Magic Moments Pre-School in Park Drive, Baldock Girl Guides and Baldock Town Hall.

To find out more, see balstock.com, follow @Balstock on Twitter or look up ‘Balstock Music Festival’ on Facebook.

The full line-up is at balstock.com/home/line-up.