Video: Temperatures soar
at Merton Farm for the fifth Lounge On The Farm.

by Adam Williams

Motown legends Martha Reeves and The Vandellas
truly brought a "Heatwave" to this year’s Lounge On The Farm music
festival.

More than 7,000 people flocked to
Canterbury’s Merton Farm as the festival celebrated its fifth year
in business with the hottest temperatures of the year.

As the mercury swelled to 32
degrees centigrade, crowds tried to keep cool and in the shade.
But, the Queen of Motown Martha Reeves sent a chill down the spine
on the Saturday evening with a mesmerising performance in the Cow
Shed stage. Martha, who turns 69 next month, had the crowd dancing
and smiling to classics including "Jimmy Mack", "Nowhere to Run"
and "Dancing In The Street".

Phill Jupitus also enjoyed his
first visit to the farm with his Improv Allstars on the Sunday.
Writing on his Twitter page, the Essex
stand-up comedian and broadcaster said: "Sustained my first sunburn
of the year at LOTF yesterday. If I’d been wearing sunglasses too
I’d now look like a red and white panda."

Organiser Matt Gough was also delighted with a
record breaking year.

He said: "It was amazing. The sun
shone and we had about 7,500 come through the gates on the Saturday
and Sunday.

"All the changes we made this year
in terms of layout and organisation seemed to work well. The site
has grown in size, but it still had the same feel and atmosphere to
it that everyone enjoys."

For more reaction and
pictures from the weekend, see this week's Kentish
Gazette.

How was the weekend for
you? Leave a comment below or email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk