By Julie Armstrong

Last updated 05:37, Friday, 25 July 2008

THOUSANDS descended on Brampton at the weekend for the annual Brampton Live event, now in its 14th year.

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Get a good seat: The Chair on stage at Brampton Live

Headliners included Richard Thompson, Fiamma Fumana, Kila, and Seth Lakeman.

The 3 Daft Monkeys drove through the night to make it after leaving a 1.30am gig in Dorset, and the crowd – everyone from teenage boys to grey-haired grandmothers – roared their appreciation.

Violinist and vocalist Athene Roberts said: “For the first few songs you could see people taking a step back; it was obvious that a lot of them hadn’t heard of us before. But halfway through they went mental – it is the best feeling to turn a crowd like that.

“I suspect that for most people here this is their wildest night of the year – I love that, and whatever their concept of wild is, we want to be part of it. We’d definitely come back to Brampton.”

Eighteen-year-old Jack Swindlehurst, who lives in the town, said the 3 Daft Monkeys were a highlight of the weekend along with Orkney’s The Chair.

Jack, who has just left William Howard School, said: “It’s good to be able to come back to my school to party. I’ve been coming here every year since I was eight. It’s much bigger than it used to be. It’s a brilliant way to start the summer, meet new people and let yourself go. It’s more of a mix than your bigger festivals, like Leeds, and more of a surprise.”

Bellowhead drew the largest crowd of the day into marquee two, while in marquee one Show of Hands received rapturous applause, especially when they pledged to abolish reality TV shows during their song I Promise You.