A STELLAR line-up of local talent will take to the stage at a Guiseley music festival this weekend.

Taking place at the Station pub on Sunday, it features headline act Issimo, playing a mix of ska/reggae/funk/rock/jazz pop.

Band leader Marc Otway started performing at the Station’s open mic night as a teenager and is now a multi instrumentalist and talented songwriter, playing alongside singer Abi Uttley. They have played Bingley Live and vocalists and toured overseas as a duo.

Also on the bill is Horsforth’s Ricky Fleming, a popular singer/songwriter who has impressed audiences across the UK with his honest, soulful sound; Guiseley favourites Elephant Trees, fronted by Martha Phillips; rising band Citrus Heights, fronted by Rawdon vocalist Jamie Kelly; country rock combo The American Dream; Bradford five-piece Regan, with lead vocalist Aaron Regan; Guiseley five-piece indie rock band Back Space and local bands Blue Horizon and Elephant Trees.

Station pub manager Richard Slatcher said: “From starting out around local open mics, what a rare talent they have all become. We are very lucky that they can fit The Station into their very busy schedule.”

Elephant Trees vocalist Martha Phillips was in the top three in the Fender Young Artist of the Year and the band recently produced a video of Martha and the boys backed by the Manchester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Citrus Heights started out at Leeds College of Music where bassist Matt Dixon started playing music with guitarist Ben Casey, lead vocalist Jamie Kelly and drummer/vocalist Luke Chambers. As well as taking much of their musical inspiration from California culture, the band models their music after a variety of other artists such as Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, The 1975, and Michael Jackson. The quartet’s latest single is Lovers.

The festival starts at 12 noon with Yeadon singer songwriter Joseph Jones and throughout the afternoon there will be more local favourites in the shape of cool and bluesy Paul Stott, Tamar, George Hodgson, Joe Doonan and Jack Howard.

Entry to the festival is by wristband in exchange for a donation to the festival charities SENSE, Guiseley In Bloom and Guiseley Senior Citizens.