THE Boars Head in Kidderminster is holding a weekend of live music and entertainment as part of this year’s Kidderminster Arts Festival (KAF).

The music venue’s showcase, known as the Kidderminster Fringe Festival, will take place over three days beginning tonight and carrying on until Sunday.

Starting this evening from 9pm, the venue is offering free entry for over-18s to see two punk bands perform.

The bands, Neon Hears and Erection Police, will both be returning to the festival after their performances in previous years.

On Saturday, from 1pm, the free entertainment moves outside the pub, in Worcester Street, and on to the Fearfulfingers Stage, named in memory of Paul Fearfulfingers Havard.

Mr Fearfulfingers Havard was the first person to perform on the venue’s outside stage a few years ago as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

Headlining on the day will be Stiff Joints, who will be joined on the bill by 10:94, Humdrum Express, Rustlung, Rubicava, We are Fenton, Bo Pilar and the Mountain Valley Boys, Teddy Matthews, Miss Halliwell, Tristy and Guests and a selection of DJs.

From 1pm on Sunday, entertainment will be provided by Chris Ryder, Sober, Squatocracy, White Noise, Alex Round, Time of the Mouth, Seventh Era and Vault of Eagles.

Closing the festival on Sunday evening are The Karpet Kickers.

Alongside the music and entertainment, the festival will also feature an arts market and various stalls, some of which will offer visitors with refreshments.

The annual Above Boards painting jam, which brings together artists from all over the country is also returning. This year painting will take place on the boards in the old market and law courts, alongside new boards, which have been erected in Coronation Gardens.

Sandra Baker, one of the event organisers and venue landlady, said: “We want to say a huge thanks to all the bands, artists and Skanking Dub Beats who are, as always, a huge part of not just the festival but the Boars Head as a whole.

“We’d also like to thank all the volunteers, helpers and staff who, we hope, will make this year’s festival one of the best yet.”