A POPULAR music festival returns to Dorset promising to ‘the biggest and the best yet.’

The countdown is on for the return of the family festival Teddy Rocks, taking place during the first May bank holiday weekend from May 3 to 5.

Held in Blandford, the festival donates 100 per cent of its profits to cancer research charities as well as charities which support children with the disease.

Festival founder Tom Newton said: “We have made some really positive changes to make the festival the biggest and the best yet.”

In 2024, the three-day festival will see more than 100 performers across seven stages, including chart-topping pop acts, alternative rock, metal, and punk bands, emerging talent, DJ sets and comedians.

Festival organisers made the decision to host tribute artists to enable a price drop in festival tickets and secure the future of the festival, raising as much money for the cause.

Tom said: “We have made the decision to move to mainly tribute bands on the main stage.”

Headlining the main stage on Saturday, May 4 is Live/Wire - the AC/DC rock band tribute show, and on Sunday, May 5, QE2 - the hugely successful tribute playing the very best of Queen.

Also featuring on the Mmin Stage will be tributes to Oasis, Guns N' Roses, The Killers, Foo Fighters, Mumford and Sons, Ed Sheeran, Madness, Iron Maiden, Green Day, Artic Monkeys, Blink 182 and Paramore.

Tom said: “The move to tribute acts, enabled us to reduce our ticket prices.

“We want everyone to come and support Teddy Rocks and have fun during this difficult financial time.

“The most important thing is to raise money for the charities.”

Tom sadly lost his brother, Ted, who passed away aged 10 from a rare bone cancer.

Teddy Rocks Festival raises money for Teddy20, a children's cancer charity founded by Tom and his family.

The 2024 festival will be raising money for four charities which are, Tedd 20, Young Lives vs Cancer, Bone Cancer Research Trust and George’s Rock Stars.

Teddy Rocks won the best family festival at the UK Festival Awards 2024.

Tom added: “We’ve got absolutely loads of activities for families.

“We've got a teddy bear hunt, action hero meet and greets, bouncy castles, trampolines, giant games, hula hooping, inflatable theme park, we've got a petting zoo, a mud kitchen and much more.”