A new locally produced music event has been announced at Kenilworth Castle next year with early-bird tickets going live last week.

Taking place within the castle's ground, CASTLEFEST 2027 brings together live music, family entertainment and market stalls with headliners including one of the UK's leading Queen Tribute Bands.

Director of the festival's production company Craig Shilton, called Kenilworth Castle his "dream venue" for hosting a music show.

"It's one of the most stunning settings in the whole of the UK. I was born and bred in Kenilworth and part of what we are doing is giving people from a local perspective a platform to play on a bigger stage," he said, having directed his company Sunrise Sounds for over two years.

Mr Shilton's father, Dave, served as a county councillor for Kenilworth for over 24 years and was twice the town's mayor. "My dad did loads for charities over here," Craig said.

With strong connections in the music industry, Craig Shilton played in a Kenilworth band named Rise, a four-piece rock and pop band covering Warwickshire.

"I only recently left. We started playing when we were sixteen as friends from Kenilworth school," he said.

Still set to play two gigs this weekend, Shilton got "support from various bands growing up" and decided to make a business out of bringing international artists to the local stage.

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His festival will bring world-famous DJ Lizzie and will be hosted by Vibe 25 Radio, a community based digital radio station from the West Midlands.

Hosted at one of the UK's most famous medieval and Elizabethan castle ruins, the event will support The Smiling Families Charity, a registered organisation that helps families dealing with serious or terminal illnesses and disabilities.

Early-bird tickets for the show taking place in the evening on 3 July 2027 can be bought here.