Pictures: NEWfest 2016 goes down a treat

Newport's annual music festival is thought to have pulled in its biggest ever crowd as the sunny weather returned over the weekend.

Published Jun 20, 2016

NEWfest16, the fifth such charity festival in Newport, took place on Saturday, with music from early afternoon until late in the evening.

Held at Newport Rugby Club in Forton Road, the bill was topped this year by Noasis, described as the "definitive tribute band" to Manchester Britpop legends Oasis.

Also performing was Shropshire singer-songwriter Alexandra Jayne, who recently supported James Blunt's Moon Landing tour at the NIA in Birmingham, along with bands Five O'Clock Hero, The Reed Brothers, Rich Evans, Ken Wood and the Mixers, The Words and Lost the Plot.

There was also a range of local food, a funfair and stalls for people of all ages at the event, which was sponsored by Aldi and supports Greenfields Africa, a Shropshire-based charity working in the poorest regions of Africa.

James Hopkins, who acted as master of ceremonies for the event, said: It went really well. Certainly there were more people than I have seen there before. The bands were really good, really engaging with the crowd, and the organisers are always trying something different.

"We had a DJ set this year which we've never had before. We didn't know if it would work but it went down a storm."

He added: "I don't know how much we raised yet, they need to tally it up and I expect we'll know later this week."

All profits from NEWfest16 will be split between Newport Rugby Club Junior Section and Greenfields Africa.