The UK’s top blues festival returns to Upton Upon Severn later this month.

Upton Blues Festival comes of age this year, celebrating its 21st birthday.

It is also celebrating being named the UK Blues-based Festival of the Year at the UK Blues Awards 2023.

The three-day event from July 21 to 23 in the riverside town is set to break its own attendance record as thousands of fans flock to enjoy the free music extravaganza.

Festival chairman Grahame Bunn said: “Bookings for our camp site are already set to top the 4,000 total we enjoyed in 2018 and with thousands of day visitors we could see numbers easily break our 10,000 ambition.

“Every year we look to be more creative in looking at new ideas, so our enclosed big-top Meadow Stage will now be a large open plan area. This will encourage a relaxing family-friendly space to listen to the bands and feel the music.”

READ MORE: Upton Blues Festival 2022: Crowds soak up the sun as event returns

Also new will be a 'land train' with open carriages to carry visitors up and down the town centre adding to the fun, plus an all-American classic car show.

Another change is on the Sunday night when the Riverside Stage will become the platform, not for a blues act but for one of the UK's top soul and funk covers bands – the Detroit Soul Collective – to bring the festival to a close with a party.

As in previous years the town centre will be shut to traffic for the weekend so visitors have a safe and easier passage between the main stages and the pubs and bars, plus the two church venues – one of which will be the set for the Acoustic Stage.

The festival's charitable work and its donations over the past seven years tops £100,000, funding music workshops, buying instruments and recycling instruments for disadvantaged children attending workshops.

“This includes funding for Upton Primary School children to be coached by professional musicians, which this year will see pupils performing on the Meadow Stage,” Mr Bunn added.