Crowds rock up for Shrewsbury Fields

With more than 16,000 festival-goers expected over the weekend, the event got off to a lively start last night with headline act Tinie Tempah taking to the stage.

Festival director Dene Edwards said the event marked a weekend of firsts for the organisers.

"What's really good is that we've jumped up on attendance again," he said.

"We expect a couple more thousand people over the weekend – about 8,000 on both Friday and Saturday. It's going to be really good.

"We've got the BBC filming for a documentary, which is quite good, and they'll be here the whole weekend.

"We've also got BBC Introducing broadcasting for the first time live anywhere.

"Everyone has worked hard to ensure not only does the event grow in numbers, but also that it grows in fun things to do as well.

"There's a whole host of random things happening from boat parties on the river to the comedy tent, which is really popular.

"We also have a wide range of entertainment, from international artists to local bands.

"We try to do big festival things in a small space. We work hard to get the balance right. Everyone on the committee is passionate about running the event."

Fans had travelled from across the country to enjoy one of the summer's last festivals, with the first campers arriving yesterday lunchtime.

Local teenagers arrived early to claim a good pitch in the campsite and get settled in before the first acts went on stage at 5pm.

Charlie Bowdler, 16, Natalie Hamer, 17, Saoirse Lewis, 16, and Ashley Buick, 17, were all excited and looking forward to sharing the festival experience with friends.

"It's so exciting. Pretty much everyone I know our age has been before," Charlie, from Meole Brace, said.

Saoirse, from Bucknell, said: "We didn't know each other before, but now we do. We'll have about 20 tents in our group when they all arrive – all friends of friends,"

Joining the girls were Jack and Tom Swain, 20 and 17, who are especially looking forward to tonight when The Cribs and Shed Seven will be on stage.

"We like the indie line up, and the camping is what the festival experience is all about," Jack said.

Andrew Baillie, 33, was enjoying a "lads' weekend" at the event with a group of friends, all from Whitchurch.

He said: "We got here about 12.30pm and were set up by 2pm – the weekend's begun.

"We came last year. We like to go to the local music festivals. We've been to V as well and it was good.

"Saturday's indie stage looks really good. We love Shed Seven and The Cribs. They look fantastic.

"We've seen some of the smaller bands before as well and they're all great.

"We're looking forward to a good lads' weekend – wives and girlfriends not allowed.

"They've stayed at home."

Other people had a longer journey to the West Mid Showground, where the three-day event is taking place.

Stuart Bardin, 30, and Yasue Fadhlaoui, 33, travelled from London to film some of the festival for a production company.

"We're totally looking forward to the weekend," Miss Fadhlaoui said.

"It's going to be different. It's a little festival, and it's very intimate."

As well as superstar Tinie Tempah, last night's line up also included a "local heroes live stage".

This featured Shropshire bands Fight the Bear and Thin Vision, who are both from Bishop's Castle, and Youngs Braves from Telford.