A HILARIOUS moment at the start of the set of Ozzy Osborne and Black Sabbath tribute band Ozzbest summed up the inaugural Boltfest for me.

As we caught our first glimpse of Phil Blackwell, aka Ozzy Osborne, preparing himself in the wings, the PA starts to blare out YMCA by the Village People.

Has there been some horrible mistake? Have I come to the wrong festival? Of course not, and when the band tears into Black Sabbath's classic 1970 track Paranoid, order is restored.

But as an onlooker, this contrast in style represents the best of what Boltfest is all about.

Rubbing shoulders in Queens Park are veteran rockers who have been there, seen that, got the tour T-shirt, and younger fans who may be watching their first rock gig.

I spoke to a group of fans of Canadian rock heavyweights Rush from Bromley Cross, who were delighted that Bolton was hosting such a festival.

They regularly go to gigs at places such as the Manchester Arena, with one fan saying her favourite gig was watching American rockers Linkin Park some years ago.

But at venues like that, unless you get there a day early and camp out to get the best spot at the front, the stage is so far away that you end up watching the action on the big screen and you may as well have waited to watch the live DVD.

Whereas in Queens Park you get the best of both worlds, by hearing some of your favourite tracks from some of the behemoths of rock and roll from the past few decades, and being able to look into the eyeballs of those performing them.

The event is also perfect for all the family, with many rock fans young and old being able to enjoy the festival in a relaxed atmosphere, with many bringing pop up chairs along.

Youngsters were also catered for, with a huge slide and a bouncy castle, and young up and coming bands from Bolton and beyond were given the opportunity to strut their stuff on the second stage.

The organiser, Jools Taylor, who also organises Festwich in Prestwich, brought the concept from that event in the hope it its success would translate to Bolton.

From the people I spoke to it certainly has. Here's to next year's festival.

Andrew Bardsley