A 12-year old budding starlet is amongst a diverse mix of bands and artists set to perform at an explosion of live music being held in the streets of the city centre this weekend. 

Issie Millin, who sings and plays the guitar, has been given the chance to show shoppers and passers-by what she can do at The Big Busk, a free event taking place across five outdoor stages from 11am and throughout the afternoon on Saturday, July 27th. 

As a preview of this year’s Worcester Music Festival at the end of August, the event, in its second year and run in conjunction with Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), will be showcasing dozens of acts from the county, including Ruane Maurice, Connor Maher, Esther Turner, Filtered by Design, Michael Knowles, Scratch Band and Granny’s Attic. 

The Big Busk will also, this year, feature a performance by Dancefest’s Passeggiata, which will travel down Worcester High Street, from the Elgar Statue to WHSmith, from 12.30pm. 

The five outdoor stages can be found outside the Guildhall on the High Street, the Shambles loading bay at the back of Marks & Spencer, outside Boston Tea Party in Angel Place, by the steps at Huntingdon Hall and the entrance of Cathedral Plaza. 

Ant Robbins, chairman of Worcester Music Festival, which will see around 240 acts from the county and beyond take more than 25 venues across the city by storm from August 30 – September 1, said The Big Busk was set to be a wonderful day of free, live music. 

“The idea behind the event is to help businesses thrive by driving footfall into the city through first class entertainment from local talent, while it is also a drum roll for our free festival of live, original music in August, which is growing year on year and attracted 11,000 people in 2012. 

“In the spirit of the festival, it’s also great that we can give young musicians such as Issie Millin their first proper public platform on which to perform. She has said it is a dream come true.” 

To find out more about The Big Busk, visit here