THE COUNTDOWN is under way as bands tune up for this year’s Butserfest, billed as the biggest and best alcohol and drug free festival in the country.

Funded by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) the festival on Saturday is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

Held at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, organisers say they have pulled out all the stops to celebrate the anniversary in style.

And completing the Butserfest Introducing Stage line-up are ten groups from Hampshire and the surrounding area, it has been announced.

They were chosen from a record number of applications from bands of all genres.

Cllr Dean Phillips of EHDC said: “The bands through to the final line-up are all excellent, we are lucky to have so much local talent to choose from.

“Together with the rest of the line-up, which includes headliners Mallory Knox and Young Guns, Butserfest 2016 looks set to be the best ever.”

This year’s Butserfest will be the biggest ever, he added, with backstage acoustic sets, artists’ signings, and a host of on-site traders, community stalls and other attractions.

There will be three stages of music all day, a high adrenalin ‘activity zone’ packed with activities, including the addition of a zip wire for 2016.

Unfortunately, following the departure of founding member and vocalist Kier Kemp, London ’New Grave’ rockers Fearless Vampire Killers will no longer be appearing. Moose Blood are also out of the line up.

Butserfest was launched specifically so young people could enjoy a great festival experience, in a safe environment, but it now appeals to music lovers of all ages, say organisers.

To find out more and book tickets, visit the website www.butserfest.co.uk