Ref. 31093-39Bhavani Vadde reports on events from the Old Town festival this weekend

MELINDA Messenger was among the spectators who defied the damp and drizzly weather at an all-day concert, Swindon Live, at the Old Town Bowl.

Along with a group of friends and family, she had come along to support husband Wayne Roberts, the lead singer of jazz funk band Zero T, who headlined at the charity event.

Other local bands such as Ode & The BeBops, Foggy Dew, Roundabout and the Teddy White Experience also performed at the concert, which was part of the Old Town Festival.

The bowl was virtually empty at the start of the event but had filled up by the evening with around 800 people attending the concert throughout the day.

Wayne joined the band, formerly known as Superfly, last year and since then the group has performed at Longs and the Apartment.

But it was their first open air gig on Saturday.

Wayne, 28, said: "The turnout is quite impressive given the weather. Hats off to everybody for coming.

"We were all really excited about the gig and are pleased to be supporting a good cause."

The band mainly played their own funky songs but the set culminated with a medley of popular hits such as Beyonce's Crazy Like Now and Praise You by Fat Boy Slim

Melinda, 33, has been helping Wayne with his song writing.

The model turned TV presenter said: "He runs the lyrics by me and sometimes I say you can't sing that, it is full of clichs.

"But he is a brilliant songwriter and comes up with some really melodic lyrics. I'm here to support him really."

Celebrities aside, plenty of ordinary Swindon folk also enjoyed the event.

Gareth Crawshaw, 32, of Highworth, performed with his band Baker's Dozen, and spent the rest of the day enjoying the music.

He said: "It's all been happening here. The rain's not been bothering me and it's been a really good event."

Proceeds raised from the event will benefit Swindon charities.

Brian Mattock, chairman of the festival's entertainments committee, said: "People in Swindon have got into the sprit of the event despite the weather and we are delighted with that.

"We had a slow start but apart from that it has been pretty superb."

Coming up in the week ahead

THE Old Town Festival is in full swing and there are plenty of fun events to keep people amused over the next week.

Tonight, there is a quiz at the Goddard Arms Hotel starting at 7.30pm and guitarists Max Brittain and John Coverdale will be playing jazz at Pizza Express, Bath Road.

Tomorrow local historian David Bedford of the Swindon Society is giving a slide show about Old Town at the Devizes Road Church Hall and the Jim Hart Quartet will be playing at Fusion.

On Wednesday, Swindon's own Pop Idol contest will be taking place at the Commonweal School, The Mall. There will also be a guided walk uncovering the unique way Old Town has developed, starting from the Market Square at 7pm.

The Kentwood Choir performs at the Arts Centre in Devizes Road on Thursday night and the Rob Jones Latin Jazz Sextet will be playing at the Kings Hotel, Wood Street.

On Friday, the Tanwood School of Performing Arts puts on a show to commemorate its 60th Anniversary.

The festival culminates with a grand procession through Old Town.