AND the band played on… despite thunderstorms and flash floods officially cancelling the ninth annual Music Festival day of pub sessions.

Many musicians and singers still made it, some travelling long distances, and played at two of the scheduled seven venues so as not to disappoint music fans.

The Bay Tree lounge and the Monkey Puzzle Cafe both stayed open despite the official cancellation regretfully made by the organising committee in the morning due to health and safety concerns after extensive flooding in the town ,

Local Singing Farm John Hughes was among the musicians who braved the storm to play along with Frankie Wesson from Abergavenny, the Maharaja Blues band from Manchester, together with One Crow Sorrow and KuldipC from the organising committee.

They are now sitting down to try to ensure the event was only postponed rather than cancelled and that a new date can be found this year, probably in August.

Sonya Smith, Aled Hughes, and Acoustic Cafe were among others who played during Sunday as organisers redrew the programmes to accommodate those still wishing to play at the two surviving venues.

Many music fans has also travelled to the festival and were determined to have a great day, enjoying what was on offer.

SINGING Farmer John Hughes, second from left, had a busy Sunday moving between the two surviving venues and filling in spots following the storms that forced postponement of the Welshpool Music Festival day. He included a set at the Bay Tree with local guitarist Neil “Zeke” Watkins, second from right, seen with Bay Tree soundman Eric Humphreysm and Annette Batty. (PB279.2018.9).