Busted, JLS and Status Quo perform at festival

Band members of Busted performing on stage. There is one guitarist and a drummer. Behind them there is a large screen with the band's name. — Image caption,
Busted attracted a huge crowd for a night of pop-punk nostalgia

Bea Swallow

BBC News, West of England

27 August 2024

Hundreds of people gathered to enjoy a music festival over the bank holiday weekend, with sets packed full of re-imagined classics and throwback tunes.

Acts at the four-day Live in Somerset festival included Busted, JLS and the Ministry of Sound classical orchestra.

The event took place at Vivary Park in the heart of Taunton.

Legendary rock band, Status Quo, headlined the stage on Friday night in what could potentially be their last ever performance.

Francis Rossi wearing a black zip up jumper and a white shirt. He is standing on stage playing an electric guitar while another band member can be seen smiling and playing another white guitar behind him.

Status Quo have sold more than 118 million records worldwide

Four members of the band standing on stage thanking the audience at the end of their performance. They are all wearing black trousers and a white shirt, with Francis Rossi also wearing a black zip up jumper. They are clapping and smiling at the audience

The British rock band formed in 1962 and were originally called The Paladins

The group is composed of lead singer and guitarist Francis Rossi, guitarist Richie Malone, drummer Leon Cave, bassist John Edwards and Andrew Bown on the keyboards.

Rossi, 75, previously told the Mirror: "As far as the rest of the band are concerned it’s the last tour.

"I just can’t see us doing it one more time.”

A shot of the main stage at night. There are hundreds of people gathered to watch a pink, white and blue laser light show with smoke machines

Fans were treated to a four-day music extravaganza in Vivary Park

Kicking off Saturday night were boy band JLS.

The group came second on The X Factor in 2008, and remain the biggest self-founded band to ever emerge from the talent show.

Their performance on the weekend showcased new songs alongside older hits such as Everybody in Love and Beat Again.

Aston Merrygold from JLS standing on stage wearing a white t-shirt and dark trousers. He is holding a microphone in one hand and gesturing with the other, while fire canons go off in the background

Boy band JLS performed on Saturday night

On Sunday, Ministry of Sound Classical dominated the stage with their laser light production, brought to life by a 30-piece concert orchestra and vocalists.

Five orchestral performers sitting down and playing violins, with one on the far left playing a harp. They are all wearing black and the stage is lit up with a purple hue

Each Ministry of Sound Classical show features classical remakes of iconic dance anthems

Three women on stage from the Ministry of Sound. They are all wearing different black and white outfits and singing into microphones. They are smiling and dancing from side to side with their arms up by their sides. In the background you can see the other orchestral band members and the whole stage is lit up with a purple hue.

Ministry of Sound Classical performed on Sunday

And rounding off the bank holiday weekend was pop-punk boy band, Busted.

The group formed in 2000 and have since scored four UK number-one singles, won two Brit Awards, and sold more than five million records worldwide.

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Busted, JLS and Status Quo perform at festival

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