A POPULAR event in Dursley is set to return this week.

The popular monthly event which brings free live music to the town is back for the summer, beginning on Friday evening under the town marketplace.

Founding member and town councillor Danae Savvidou said: "Dursley After Hours was conceived in 2021 as a way to support the town's high street recover from the pandemic.

"By encouraging people into the centre to buy food and drink from local retailers, as well as to give people a fun and family-friendly night out.

"We ran events through the summers of 2021 and 2022 to great success with people giving really positive feedback how much they enjoyed it."

Generously supported by a grant from Dursley Town Council, the event aims to support local musical talent.

"From the start we wanted to be able to pay musicians for their performances," said Doina Cornell, district councillor for the town and also a founder member.

"We have always got amazing musicians and groups from the area or with local connections."

On Friday, May 19 music duo Mollie Swain and Jack Critchlow will be performing jazz standards.

Talented local musical student Mollie performed at the 2021 inaugural event.

Founder member Wendy Thomas, also county councillor for Dursley, welcomed two new faces to the team.

"I'm really pleased Dursley's former mayor Symon Ackroyd has now joined us, as he helped out over the winter, with a series of free events in Chantry Centre entitled Dursley After Hours Undercover," said cllr Thomas. 

"This raised money for the warmGL11 initiative.

"Newly moved to the area, Tom Meadowcroft has also signed up to help and is looking forward to the summer's events."

This Friday's event starts at 7pm under the town marketplace.  

Following this, the next events will be monthly on Fridays, on June 9, July 21, August 18 and September 15. 

Follow Dursley After Hours on Facebook for news of which musicians will be playing or pick up one of the postcards in the town as a reminder of the dates.

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