Louise Glyde discovers Blissfields, the low-key music festival based in Bradley

Blissfields, a small music festival that champions local bands, is so popular it doesn't need to blow its own trumpet to sell tickets.

Held in a field between Alresford and Basingstoke, the capacity is for 1000 and it sold out around two months before the festival, which runs from Friday July 6 until Sunday July 8.

As well as being a group hug for the local music scene, Blissfields also has a strong environmental message, and is helping to raise money for two good causes.

One is nearby Preston Candover School and the other is a charity called Practical Action, that supports communities in the developing world by supplying them with tools, which in the long term helps people to help themselves.

The event has come a long way after starting six years ago as a party in organisers Paul and Mel Bliss' back garden at Bradley.

Paul said: "2001 was the first Blissfields, but that was very much as a party in the back garden. We didn't really have any plans for how it was going to grow. There were probably about 50 or 60 people in the back garden and that was just on the Saturday."

Mel has a band called Blisskrieg who are gigging and playing at this years festival.

She said: "I have been a musician for some time. A lot of my friends are musicians too. It was a lovely location, a combination of people I knew and Paul's ambition to put on a festival. I always enjoyed a Woodstock kind of thing and thought it would be a good thing to try out."

Paul continued: "We have grown organically each year. We have not been looking to make money out of it. Every year someone comes along or helps and the bands that come back to us are better quality each year, but it is getting more expensive to put on. Two years ago it was £5 for a tent and the music was free up until last year. This year for the first time we have had to charge for the music because of health and safety and licensing regulations, security and police."

"It is a low-key festival and the first three years we put on without a licence. When we went to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council for the fourth year realising we needed a licence they said they had never heard of us! We have never had any problems.

"A lot of our social life derives from it."

The line up for the festival this year includes homegrown delights such as Six Nation State, Dead! Dead! Dead!, Captain Phoenix and Plastic Toys.

There will also be an interesting array of entertainment, and food stalls, including craft stalls, street theatre, workshops, and a bigger craft area.

Fore more information or to book your ticket for next year visit: www.blissfields.co.uk.