The number of music festivals is on course to outnumber live music venues in our region within the next decade, according to new researched conducted by BBC Music Introducing in Hereford & Worcester.

Currently, there are only 71 pubs within the 70-mile drive from north Worcestershire to south Herefordshire that host regular live music. That is in contrast to 53 music festivals now taking place, in the same area, every year.

“There are 62 pubs trading in Hereford city alone. So, for both counties to only have 71 venues regularly hosting live music is alarming; it’s nothing to do with pubs closing down,” says Andrew Marston, presenter of BBC Music Introducing in Hereford & Worcester.

 “With the meteoric rise of the music festival in the last five years, we predict there will be more opportunities for bands on outdoor stages at the expense of playing, say, the ‘Dog & Duck’. Will this be the end of the ‘dad rock’ band - leaving only festival grade acts?”

Gawain Boal, director of Herefordshire’s Sunrise Celebration, puts the success of the festival down to the fact you can take the whole family: “We are 60% adults and 40% kids. At night, you wouldn’t think it’s such a kids’ venue because it’s people going ‘out’. But then, in the daytime, you wouldn’t know there are so many people raving at night - it really is a good balance.”

 Steve High, one of the organisers of the Mello and Upton Sunshine Festivals, agrees: “Yes, the artists are important, but they want to know the range of artists and other activities that are going on that can make it a whole family experience.” Mr High, who used to run pub gigs as Backstage Promotions, also says the location and weather, together with the huge turnover also work in a festival’s favour. He also hosted one day events at Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Hereford FC.