Southend Airport Vulcan music and beer festival - in photos

The historic Vulcan bomber's hangar at the airport hosted two days of music, food and beer on Friday and Saturday (August 4 and 5) in a fundraiser for the Vulcan Restoration Trust.

Crowds inside the Vulcan hangar as the festival kicks off (Image: Jason Gore)

The first event of its kind at the airport featured rock bands Sons of Bourbon, Throwback to the Future, The Long Run, Interchange, and Rooskin, with jazz fans treated to performances from the Dave Warren and Ruby Robinson jazz quartets.

Crowds enjoyed the performances from local bands (Image: Jason Gore)

The Southend Sweet Charity Choir also ensured the second day of the festival got off to a flying start as they took to the stage.

Brewers from south Essex such as Black Box Brewery, the Datum Attitude Brewery Co. and Tipsy Bubbles, quenched festival-goers thirsts. More than 30 different craft ales were on sale.

Bartenders quench the thirsts of festival-goers (Image: Jason Gore)

Pimms, Prosecco, cocktail, and gin bars were also available alongside a wide selection of street food on offer. Guests enjoyed pub activities including wooden skittle alleys and shove ha’penny boards.

Crowds enjoy the music and beer (Image: Jason Gore)

Events manager at the Vulcan Restoration Trust, Jamie Keene, said: “This is the first music and beer festival we’ve held, so we had no idea how popular it would be.

“To have more than a thousand people turn up to, with the Saturday sold out, is really thrilling.”

Organisers also wanted to highlight the talent of south Essex performers (Image: Jason Gore)

The community-based event, run solely by volunteers, raised more than £12,000 to go towards maintaining the historic Vulcan, XL426, based at the airport.

Throwback To The Future wowed the audience (Image: Jason Gore)

Organisers said the festival was not only important to celebrate and raise money for the historic aircraft, but to also highlight the brilliant businesses and bands in the south Essex area.

A spokesman for Southend Airport added: "Our aviation neighbours, home to the Avro Vulcan XL426, put on a fantastic new event for the community Friday to Saturday with the brand-new music and beer festival.

"A brilliant turnout and a moment for the history books!"

Thousands of pounds were raised for the charity at the successful event (Image: Jason Gore)

The XL426 is next open to the public at the Visit the Vulcan Classic Jets Day on Sunday August 20. Tickets are on sale at www.avrovulcan.com.