YORK’S Little Festival of Live Music is proving so popular, the organisers have noticed festival-goers waiting in queues to enter the 400-capacity marquee in Parliament Street.

Curator Ellen Cole says: "I'm so surprised at how many people have been coming since we kicked off last Friday. Our festival usually attracts crowds, but not as many as it has been this year.

"We're a genuine grassroots music festival, which celebrates the work of unsigned talent and independent artists; our aim as always is to encourage our audiences to explore their music scene and to support lesser-known talent who are just as talented or even more so than those who fill out huge arenas. "Some of my most memorable music gigs have been in intimate venues and I would urge anyone to go out there and explore their local and regional music scene.”

Today's line-up sees the return of two legends of the York music scene, Andy Doonan and The Blueprints, both making a comeback, and supporting them will be acoustic singer-songwriter Kitty VR and Britpop band Bull.

Ending the festival on a high on Saturday will be York surf-rock band Atomic Raygun, alt-electronic artist Kymberley Kennedy, theatrical cabaret band Flora Greysteel and new York pop and funk band Kitsch, promoting their debut single Miss Creativity.

Ellen says: "The festival has gone incredibly well and we hope to sustain that trend for the rest of the week. The line-up continues to be phenomenal and we can't wait to see what our audiences think."

Each evening's bill runs from 5pm to 9pm; entry is free; everyone is welcome. Throughout the event, the festival is fundraising for York Mind, a charity that helps people with mental ill-health. "Any donations, however big or small, will be greatly appreciated," says Ellen.