AFTER a full week of setting up stages, tents and a backstage village to house the plethora of production staff and volunteers, Richmond Live is finally ready to rock.

Opening tonight (Friday, August 1) at 4.30pm with the first band playing the acoustic stage at 4.45pm, Richmond’s annual music festival promises a year of big names and familiar local acts.

Marketing manager Jon Naylor said: “We started setting up on Monday at 7am and have worked pretty solidly all week.

“Despite having done this for 17 years and set-up running like a well-oiled machine there are always problems to trip us up – this year one of the trailers struggled to get to the Batts and some fencing was late – but these were very minor glitches.

“This year we have been running a blog on our website with pictures and some information about the setting up process, to give fans an insight into the work the volunteers put in each year, and we are also having a short film made following the volunteers which will be put on our website.

“I have had excited insomnia for the past couple of weeks – I’m like a child at Christmas every year.”

Richmond Live runs from 5pm to 11pm today and noon to 11pm on Saturday. Entry is £5 on Friday evening and £10 for Saturday. Weekend tickets are also available for £13 on the gate but advance tickets from www.richmondlive.org cost £10 for the whole weekend.