Black Country Festival: Annual celebrations come to a close - with pictures

The festival, which began on June 30, ended as torrential rain hit parts of the West Midlands.

DJ Billy Spakeman and musician John Langford headlined Buskin' For Parkinson's Summer Festival at The Light House in Wolverhampton on July 28 in one of the final events of the festival.

The six hour free event - spectators were encouraged to make donations - featured 30 acts ranging from solo acoustic performers to rock groups as well as poets and storytellers. All the artists, sound engineers and other backroom staff gave their time without payment.

Gayle Kelly, the regional fund raiser for the charity, declared: "We are incredibly lucky to have the support of somebody like Billy. He supports us all the time and organises so much for us." The proceeds from the event, one of the last of the month long Black Country Festival, will not be known for several days.

There were fears the Coseley Black Country Day would be cancelled due to the torrential rain on July 29.

Dave Brownhill, the chairman of the Black Country Festival, said at its conclusion: "The weather had been glorious until the final day when I initially thought the event would be called off because of the rain but the organisers were determined to put on a show and the people came out in force.

"We were competing against the World Cup but attendances at all events have increased. So has the number taking place with shows being organised in the other three boroughs rather than just in Dudley. The street food festival in Stourbridge saw 1,400 people turn out on a Friday night. The message for the Black Country is very positive and that is how we want to keep it."