B-FEST was an Easter Sunday success, flying in the face of persistent rain to bring a broad selection of acts to the town centre.

With drinks flowing and crowds building at both Blind Tiger and the Alma Inn , there was a buzz about an afternoon to remember.

The Blind Tiger’s eclectic line-up explored an exciting range of genre and sounds, enjoyed for its variety by the numbers throughout the day.

Kicked off with a rocking boot by young hyper-active Bolton three-piece, So Called Friend, the Nelson Square audience were then treated to a cocktail of indie, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, funk and soul, as well as a number of talented singer-songwriters on the Acoustic Stage, notably opened by local lad Josh Owen.

A mid-afternoon standout set from Bullets and Bourbon set a bar for the day’s proceedings, fusing blues and funk for our delight with their flamboyant frontman’s sass and swagger, harmonica in-hand.

Attic Doctors and Dirty Bare Feet recaptured this energy, the first with their danceable indie rock, and the second a reggae/funk five-piece setting the then packed venue alight with their cultural bursts.

Blind Tiger's Dawn Price said: "The quality of the bands was on another level, some of the bands who performed at the Blind Tiger for B-Fest are launching albums, touring and playing on some of the biggest UK Stages in 2017. To host them in Bolton is such a treat for live music, such a mix of genres which all fitted together perfectly.

"It is our intention to hopefully create a Bolton Live event across all venues in the town centre on Easter Sunday."

A minute’s stroll around the corner, Alma Inn hosted an array of powerful and entertaining hard rock and metal acts. With an all-age audience present throughout the day, the venue was undoubtedly an introduction to the genre for mini metalheads of Bolton.

The venue’s two stages delivered a variety of metal sounds, reaching all corners of the genre. Twisted Illusion typified all of this with a charming cover of ‘Stairway to KFC’, ambitiously distorting Led Zeppelin’s famous track with incredible results.

Concluding with roaring sets from Manchester psyche-punks, The Blinders, and local alt-rock heroes, Our Fold, the charity day was full of musical moments to remember.