TWELVE hours of live music will fill Haddington this summer as Haddstock festival returns.

After a successful debut last year, the festival will again see budding and established performers come together to ensure the town is rocking.

Organiser Rebecca Brady said preparations from the June 16 event were “going really well”.

“I realised we’ve promoted the festival as having 50 acts but we actually have 73!” she told the Courier.

“We have acts returning from last year and new musicians, young local musicians, who heard about it and have come forward, which is exciting.”

Live music is played at 15 venues throughout the town.

Miracle Glass Company, Wynntown Marshals and the Sensation Seekers are the headline acts at Haddington Town House – the only venue to charge for entry.

At all other locations, the audience are invited to leave a donation for the performers.

Other venues include The Loft cafe and bakery, the masonic hall and pub/restaurant The Bell will witness performances from groups and solo artists such as Siancio Singers, Under the Dogwood Tree, and mylittlebrother.

Outdoors there is also al fresco busking, with budding musicians through ELJam and Lamp House Music also given their chance to shine.

Meanwhile, in the Trinity Centre, the 3 Harbours Art Festival hosts a pop-up art exhibition throughout the day.

Rebecca said: “This is a festival for the community and we would like to entertain a variety of tastes by bringing diverse genres to Haddstock.

“We have folk music, blues, Latin, Americana, choral, jazz and more.”

The freelance artist had promised that Haddstock would return if it proved popular last summer.

Many venues reported an increase in footfall, while feedback from members of the public was positive.

That led to Rebecca, who has now formed a community interest company to take the event forward, drawing up plans for Haddstock 2018.

Support has been given by Haddington and Lammermuir Area Partnership and East Lothian Council, with Robertson Homes sponsoring.

Rebecca added: “We had a really positive response from the public and from musicians on social media.

“I had people that I knew and strangers coming up to me in the street afterwards saying how much they enjoyed Haddstock.

“Music affects people in many ways – whether it be young people having the opportunity to perform or well established bands having fun playing at a laidback community festival.

“It is great for the people of Haddington to go to their local cafe or bar and enjoy live music while enjoying a coffee or lunch.

“It is a family-friendly festival. People can bring their kids to listen to music or interact with the ukulele interactive events.”

For information about the festival and for tickets for the headline gigs, search Haddstock on Facebook.