DOVES front man Jimi Goodwin emerging from the Ramsbottom Cricket Club pavilion dressed in denim, as opposed to all white, was not the most surreal sight at Ramsbottom Festival.

There were performers prowling like the Penguin from Batman when night fell, and a man dressed as a nun wearing football socks and trainers playing a keyboard as Acre Bottom was transformed into a field of music and fun for another Ramsbottom Festival.

This eclectic East Lancashire ensemble is not like any other festival. The grass is flat and mud-free for a start, while one of the stages - the gloriously named T'Other - is in the pavilion.

But like every other festival it brings people from all walks of life together to soak up the atmosphere, socialise, sing and smile.

There were plenty of the latter, not to mention dancing, when Soul II Soul hit The Hills stage on Sunday night, warming things up as the temperature dropped.

Celebrating their 25th anniversary they took those old enough to remember the early days back in time. But even festival goers who came into the world after the group began were soon into the groove.

Jazzie B engaged with the crowd, and Caron Wheeler beautifully belted out hits including Keep on Movin', Joy and Back to Life. The day before, Veteran folk rockers The Levellers delivered a high energy performance on the opening night.

As did Goodwin with throwbacks to his Doves days, he always gives every performance as if it's his last.

Hopefully not, although this was his final festival before going "back to the laboratory". Fingers crossed that is code for working on a second album that he can showcase next year perhaps as the main attraction.

There is something for the young and young at heart at Ramsbottom Festival's four stages, while aside from the music those of an alternative culinary persuasion are well catered for, plus face-painting for children, while the Imaginary Menagerie theatre show also proved a big hit.

Soul II Soul was a fitting finale for it all, and left the festival folk wanting more.

Next year's Ramsbottom Festival is already eagerly anticipated.