A NEW weekend music festival for Malmesbury has raised more than £30,000 in thirty days and is now moving into the next stages of planning.

This result means that The Boondocks Festival, organised by a team of local volunteers, is now set to go ahead in summer 2015.

The Kickstarter appeal that ran in November allowed anyone who wanted to see the festival go ahead pledge the cost of an advance ticket or more to ensure that the project would have enough money to be feasible.

With days to go the fund was still several thousand pounds away from the necessary total but the people of Malmesbury and beyond pledged generously to leave the final figure at £31,226.

One of the organisers Neil Muttock said: “We’re astounded. Absolutely astounded. Four hundred and twenty people have donated through that campaign and we can’t wait to get on with it.

“We always thought that it was possible, that it could happen, otherwise we wouldn’t have done it in the first place. But the level of support has totally surpassed our expectations.

“This is where the hard work starts but we’re ready to rise to the occasion.”

The next stage for the festival is for the team to plan out the programme of events for the weekend with many live music events and even comedy promised on July 17 and July 18.

Although there are already around 100 bands in the organising team’s book Neil stressed that there was still time for people to get in touch about playing if they were interested in getting involved.

As well as the main stage and the comedy events the team hope to provide a space for local musicians to perform to give them extra publicity and the chance to be heard.

Anyone who missed out on the opportunity for an early ticket will still have the chance to buy one next year but will have to wait until the event is organised and budgeted for before they can say how much regular tickets will cost.

The team of volunteers who put together the plans for the festival and updated residents on the fund’s progress on Facebook each day will be taking a break at Christmas before renewing their efforts in the New Year and making the festival reality.

Neil added: “We’re just really, really grateful to the people of Malmesbury and the surrounding areas and thank the people who put their hands in their pockets and donated so generously.”