WHEN you’ve got local talent that’s this good, why look anywhere else.

More than a hundred bands applied to play August’s Colchester Free Festival. That’s possibly why the line-up is perhaps the best yet.

Organiser Andy Winmill says: “It’s been a very difficult decision, but we’ve done it a bit differently this year by asking local promoters to suggest acts they thought should be playing.

“That way everyone gets a say on who they think should be at the festival. Hopefully, that will make it even more representative of the local music scene. After all, that is what the festival is all about, celebrating the unique talent in and around the town.”

There’s certainly strength in depth across all the stages with the main stage, sponsored by Lion Walk, leading the way.

Headlining will be Animal Noise, who have been working their way up through the Colchester music scene for the last few years.

It couldn’t be a better time for them, with the release of Run Loose, their brilliant debut album, and recent airplay on Huw Stephen’s BBC Radio 1 show.

Support on that stage couldn’t be better with Angry Vs the Bear and the all-conquering Dingus Khan, who will no doubt be as raucous as ever getting the Free Festival crowd going.

Because of the demand, the festival has added an extra stage to highlight the burgeoning acoustic scene.

Highlights on that one include headliner Snippet, whose quirky, cool pop numbers have made him a popular choice at venues. Others worth catching on that stage are Slow Life, otherwise known as Colchester indie folk multi-instrumentalist Dan Bowen, and indie folk queen Polly Haynes, who will be sprinting from there to play the Hollytrees stage with her band Newton’s Apple.

The Hollytrees stage will again host bands organisers have marked as ones to watch on the Colchester music scene.

Headliners are rock group, Drive Through Therapy, supported by Colchester’s answer to Simon and Garfunkel, Videotapes, and the super-cool sounds of the Mono Polys. Last, but by no means least, will the Bowling Green Stage, on Castle Park’s old bowling green. That will house the local legends of the music scene, with super group Flying Heroes headlining.

Other bands include the weird and rather wonderful, the Curious World Of The Grymoire and Slugworth.

Since its first outing two years ago, the new Colchester Free Festival has captured not only the imaginations and hearts of local gig-goers, but the local music scene as a whole.

Supported by festival partners Lion Walk Shopping Centre and Firstsite, and media partners the Gazette, the event is in Colchester’s Castle Park, from 11am until 7pm on August 25.