Bury St Edmunds Nearly Festival sees 1,000 people on both days enjoy tribute acts including Queen, Robbie Williams and Tina Turner

Families flocked to a tribute festival weekend in the picturesque setting of Bury St Edmunds’ Abbey Gardens.

Nearly Festival, over June 11 and 12, was a sell-out, with about 1,000 people on both days - and organisers said some festival-goers were asking about buying tickets for next year on their way out.

On the Saturday, the line-up of tribute acts included Rita Ora, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams, Chic and Nike Rogers, and Bob Marley and the Wailers.

The next day Nearly Festival favourite Queen by Flash was once again a hit, with other performers including Tina Turner, Bruno Mars, ABBA, Stereophonics and Black Eyed Peas.

Families and friends enjoyed the music, food and drink and children’s activities in the fine summer weather.

Adam Coulton, one of the organisers, said the weekend’s event was one of his favourites ‘ever’, adding it was ‘perfectly executed’.

“It was really, really excellent. It was a great event,” he said. “The line-up I thought were a really, really high standard, the acts that were on. They were very grateful for the weather.”

He said the Tina Turner tribute act - that hadn’t been part of the line-up there before - was ‘incredible’ on the Sunday.

As well as the live music, tickets included unlimited use of the inflatables for children in the ‘kids zone’ - something that always goes down well, Mr Coulton said.

There were other rides and activities - such as face painting - that had a charge.

There was a pub-style bar and food options featured pizza, noodles, hog roast, chicken, and crepes, with treats like slushies, ice-cream and sweets available.

Gigantic bubbles that floated in front of the stage entertained children and adults alike, and as the event went on, more and more people got up to dance to the music.

Mr Coulton added: “It’s a family event. It’s a tongue-in-cheek event. It’s a bit of fun.

“The standard of the [tribute] acts now is so, so high and I think that’s one of the best weekends I have ever had as regards to the standard. The acts are so professional and it’s so well executed now.”

As with any festival, there was at least a small wait to use the toilets, which were manned by attendants.

Mr Coulton said this year’s event all went ‘pretty smooth’, but added organisers are looking to add more vegan food options for next year.

Details of next year’s Nearly Festival in Bury St Edmunds will be on the website in the next few weeks. Visit www.nearlyfestival.com