The rolling roadshow that is this year’s Rhythms of the World festival in Hitchin will be docking in the town this weekend.

Instead of one big weekend of music, organisers hampered by financial issues have opted instead to stage 25 events around the town to help mark the silver anniversary of the community celebration of music from around the world and around the corner.

This weekend the focus is on The Anchor pub in Walsworth, which will host a two-day programme of DJs and live performances on Saturday and Sunday.

Funk, soul, Latin and disco beats are promised on Saturday while a string of local acts including NOVA, the Timeless Lizards, Georgia Nevada, Midnight Drives, and Indi and The Vegas on bill.

Rhythms chair Amy Hopkins said: “We are delighted to collaborate with the teams from Blunt Beats and London Road Studios and thank them for their support.

“The Anchor Weekender promises to be a fun-filled, family friendly event with music and entertainment to suit everyone.”

Admission is £3 for adults, with music and performances from midday to 11pm each day.

Later in the summer, Rhythms will be one of three local charities to benefit from Hitchin Round Table’s Community Ball, to be held at Hitchin Priory on Saturday, July 16.

Also looking forward to cash in the coffers are the town-based non-animal medical research charity the Dr Hadwen Trust and the Angels Support Group, which helps families who are affected by autism.

Dr Kay Miller, group head of operations at the Dr Hadwen Trust, said: “We are immensely grateful to Hitchin Round Table for organising this event.

“It demonstrates fantastic community spirit and engagement when the Round Table, a charity in its own right, has put such a huge amount of effort into raising funds for three other local charities. We are also very grateful to Hitchin’s FC Comets youth football team who are actively supporting and promoting the event.”

Tickets are £60 a head, available from the charity’s Churchyard shop or the nearby Hitchin Initiative offices. The evening includes sparkling wine on arrival, a three course meal with wine, live music and a DJ.