KIRKBY Lonsdale hosts its second major event of the month with the return of the town's hit Beer and Music Festival.

Following the success of its first-ever Taste Cumbria over the Easter weekend, this time it is the turn of the region's best-known bands - and another chance for the local brewers to shine.

From Friday April 28 to Sunday 30, bands and artists will be taking to the marquee stage at Underley Park, home of Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club.

Kendal-based bands The Fiction and Midnight Landing are the headline names this year.

Four-piece indie rockers The Fiction have been starring at gigs across the North West, with their biggest show in recent months coming at the Milecastle 66 event in Carlisle alongside Feeder and The Enemy. Favourites of the BBC Introducing programme, the young Britpop-influenced outfit have found success through both highly-accomplished original material and their distinctive covers.

Midnight Landing have been part of the local scene for more than six years, though the last few have only seen sporadic appearances.

Here they will be reviving some of their self-penned set, along with new material and covers, showcasing their highly-creative ska, punk and rock sounds.

Pop rock act The Lancaster Bombers join them on the weekend's bill, which will see fellow bands Dead Man's Hand, The Truce, The Folkestra, J Bear and the Giants, The Charm, The Jam Buddies and Hiroshima Twinkie also appearing, as well as solo artists Jack Hartley, Molly Warburton, Alex Hulme and Evie Plumb - with many more of the weekend's acts still to be announced.

There will be a large selection of locally-brewed beers available throughout the weekend too.

Entry is free, and camping facilities are also available.