By Karen Evans

Last updated at 11:50, Monday, 07 May 2012

Cumbria rocked to the sounds of the 80s in Workington as the inaugural Nuts in May got into full swing.

Nik Kershaw

Visitors from across the UK saw Nik Kershaw headline the festival, which attracted more than 1,500 people.

The three-day festival – the brainchild of Alwyn and Joanne Braniff – was held on 50 acres of woodland at Middlemoor and started on Friday. Goths, punks, rockers, hippies, bikers and Indie fans joined together to celebrate their love of music at the festival, which had a strong theme of nature running throughout, from its quirky stage names to the layout and design of the site.

Eugenia Innes, 22, of Firth View, Workington, was enjoying herself. “It’s lovely,” she said. “Everything is really pretty and there’s a really relaxed atmosphere.”

Chelsea Varty, 19, of St Mary’s Court, Workington, thought the setting was lovely. “I don’t think I’ve been to one before that's been this natural,” she said.

Michael Donohue, 40, of Chapel Terrace, Bridgefoot, took his sons Evan, eight, and Nathan, three. He said: “We like to support all the local music events and like Solfest this event seems to have a really good family feel to it.

“The boys are really enjoying themselves and a couple of bands have really stood out for us including the Cuban Fiddle Crisis.”

Lauren McMillan, 23, of Lowca, Whitehaven, who was at the event with daughters Layla, two, and Elise, nine months, said: “There’s a lot of families here which is really nice to see. There’s been some really good bands on so it was worth coming to.”

The weather varied over the weekend with sunny spells during the day, chilly spells during the night and showers on the final day but this didn’t put people off dressing up for the occasion.

The festival’s six stages were bustling with spectators and there were top-class performances from singer songwriter Hazel O’Connor and seventies rock legend Martin Turner who performed with his band Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash.

Other acts that were popular with the crowds were The Magic Tombolinos, Cuban Fiddle Crisis, I am Spartacus, Megan Henwood and festival regulars The Baghdaddies and Pikey Beatz.

Organiser Joanne Braniff, said: “So many local people have come to support the event and there are also people here from all over the country, which has really exceeded our expectations.”

First published at 09:12, Monday, 07 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk