THIS year’s Beer R‘n’B Festival went “brilliantly” said organiser Sheila Riley.

Saturday evening’s concert at the Mariners’ Hall featuring festival favourites The Jives and Robin Bibi was sold-out, and a good crowd supported youngsters The Walk Hards and Sam Kelly’s Stationhouse on Friday.

The Walk Hards began when bassist Bert Bond and guitarist and singer Paddy Blight got up together at the festival’s Sunday jam session in 2008.

This year, they joined the more experienced band for a jam at the end of the night.

“It’s wonderful to see young, talented guys perform with experienced players,” said Sheila.

Tim Royce entertained al fresco at the Anchor Inn at the same time as the jam session on Sunday afternoon.

“You wouldn’t expect to be playing outside in a garden in October, but it was perfect,” said Sheila. A collection for the Jim Riley Memorial Fund raised �100, to go toward musical instruments for Puffins Pre-school.

“Every year the festival just gets better,” said Sheila. “The quality of musicians we get at the jam session is very high, and things just go from strength to strength.”