MUSIC lovers packed out a pub to get an earful of the region’s best new bands and celebrate the fifth year of a popular festival.

Eight bands from across Berkshire played to more than 250 punters at the Wheatsheaf pub, in Albert Street, Slough, on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival was headlined by punk rockers The Company. The festival is named after lead singer of the group Bob Kyley, from Slough.

Organiser Andrew Leighton-Pope said: “It was fantastic. The pub was packed to the rafters.” He said despite a decline nationally of live music venues, the festival is continuing to thrive. “I could have named around 200 live venues in the region but now there are only around 40,” he said. “It’s difficult, there is no real money in live venues.

“But we are going to do this every year. It’s a labour of love. We might look at running it for three nights next year, depending on if we can get enough local bands to play.” Performers were from all from Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead or Reading. The £750 raised from bucket collections during the gigs will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust.