Blyth Power have been making and playing music for over 30 years.

The band, named after a railway locomotive, were founded in 1983 by drummer, lead singer and songwriter Joseph Porter.

“We resemble a unique blend of The Sex Pistols, Steeleye Span and The Rubettes,” said Joseph.

“The harmonies and pop sensibility of the latter mixing with the crashing guitars and lyrical penetration of the former. I added my own interests in history and literature to the mix through lyrics coming up with a sound that is unique in British music.”

The current line up sees Joseph fronting the band on drums, Ann Hatcher on keyboards, Ben Bailey on bass and Jerry Hellfire, Porter’s younger brother, on guitar.

With 11 albums to their name from the years of 1986 to 2014, Blyth Power have grown a loyal following, and since 1993 have held their very own mini music festival – the Blyth Power Ashes.

The event was born out of a spontaneous free-for-all cricket match, at a pub where Blyth Power and a number of other bands were booked to play.

Over the years, the event snowballed, growing bigger each year and becoming an annual gathering.

Joseph continued: “The Ashes has grown from an annual show at a beer garden in a pub in Cambridgeshire to a four day event filled with music, cabaret, poetry, and the most bizarre game of cricket imaginable.

“Blyth Power’s eleven – or 28 as it often turns out – compete for a jar of old fag ends with the equally unqualified team of reprobates fielded by Cracktown, our regular Friday headliners.”

Since 2015, the festival has been held at The Hunters Inn, near Tewkesbury.

This year the Ashes will be taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend of Friday 23rd to Monday 26th August.

The Ashes will feature a line up of music from Blyth Power and a host of other bands, as well as the traditional cricket match, morris dancers and the Ashes Dog Show.

“But don’t come to the Ashes expecting to see anyone you’ve heard of,” added Joseph.

“The event has evolved out of the garage and stayed true to the punk roots that originally inspired the band, while growing, maturing, and exchanging anger for a deep and profound sense of irony.

“Thus there is no point listing the acts – all you need to know is that they are some of the most original and inspirational performers you could hope to find in a marquee out the back of a country pub!”

For more information on the Blyth Power Ashes visit www.blythpower.co.uk