Preparations for festival get underway

THE sight of massive steel frames now dominate The Embankment as preparations for The Willow Festival began yesterday.

The first of seven stages began to emerge as volunteers started setting-up ahead of the eagerly-awaited return of the music festival after a nine-year hiatus.

The first marquees also started to go up ahead of the three-day event, which kicks off tomorrow.

Free entry and forecasts of a mini heatwave all weekend are expected to attract a bumper crowd, with on-site camping completely sold out.

The line-up includes 135 acts including The Edwin Starr Band on Sunday, Whisky Jax on Friday and Wonderlush and The David Goo Variety Band on Saturday, as well as the festival’s first-ever comedy tent.

A full preview of the festival will be available in tomorrow’s ET. GOING Up: Huge steel frames were erected at The Embankment yesterday as the first music stages for The Willow Festival are put together.