More than 140 bands will turn a market town into a three day riot of music this weekend.

Balstock festival takes place at 13 venues in the heart of Baldock from tomorrow night (Friday) – bringing a massive range of music to the town - as pop, rock, acoustic, ska, punk, folk, metal, motown, dance and even comedy acts perform in pubs and on street stages over three days.

Now in its seventh year, the charity event has expanded massively from its first home at The Engine to become the biggest free music event in Herts.

Highlights this year include Letchworth indie boys Blonde Louis and all-girl Stevenage leather and lace rockers Joanovarc on Saturday, as part of a wider High Street festival.

Other acts to watch out for are Indi And The Vegas, Kilto Take and James Christie on the London Road Studio stage at The White Lion, old Joanna rocking Chas Hodges at The Engine, and 70s punk band The Bleach Boys and metallers Aghast on the punk and metal stage at Brandles School.

For folk head over to The Boot, where aficionado Brian Burke is hosting, and for the funkier side go to The Orange Tree, where Mr Speaker are running things.

Almost every other venue in the town will also have live music, including The White Hart, The Rose and Crown, The Hen and Chickens, The Victoria and Taste Caf�. Between them they’ve got Owen Stephens, The October Game, Stuart O’Connor, Sons Of Guns, The Zipheads, and Lost Without Cause and many more.

Organiser Graeme ‘G’ LaRoche said: “Balstock has a unique feel as far as festivals go. People really seem to click with its humble character and the fact that there’s no corporation driving it to purely make money. We have an exceptional music scene locally and I think it’s important for people to realise this and start supporting music all year round.”

Money raised from collections will go towards saving Baldock’s Victorian Town Hall and refurbishing it as an arts and heritage centre.

For the full line-up, venues and times go to www.balstock.com