A VARIETY of top musical acts brought Darwen to life yesterday as thousands of people descended to watch the first day of a free two-day festival.

A huge crowd of people packed into venues across the town to catch the action, with Fine Young Cannibals lead singer Roland Gift headlining the main stage.

Over 200 gigs were advertised in the run up to the much-anticipated Darwen Live festival which, with the dry weather expected to continue into today, is hoped to be the best attended yet.

Cllr Trevor Maxfield, who helped organise the festival, said 53-year-old Roland Gift, had pulled in a bumper crowd.

He said:”We have over 200 gigs with 20 venues involved and people seem to be enjoying it very much.

“A lot of people came to see Roland Gift.

“We will see what today brings. Hopefully we will have another bumper crowd.”

Nineties pop band Space will headline the main stage from 7.30pm today.

The Liverpool Britpop quartet is best known for chart hits including Female of the Species, Me and You Versus the World, Avenging Angels and The Ballad of Tom Jones, which featured a collaboration with Catatonia lead singer Cerys Matthews.

Space follow on from last year’s headline act The South – formed after The Beautiful South split – and the Lancashire Hotpots and the Wonder Stuff in 2014.

Other big names to have taken to the Market Square stage include The Buzzcocks, Billy Bragg, Bad Manners, Spear of Destiny, The Animals and The Beat.

Other venues in the town to host live music as part of the festival include Darwen Library Theatre, The Alexandra, The Belgrave, The Loft, The Black Horse, Marigolds, The Bob Inn, The Millstone, Number 39 Hopstar Brewery Tap, Bridge Street Sports and Social Club, Two Gates Bowling and Social Club, Cafe Hub, The Crown and Level One.