WATCHET'S Parsonage Farm fields celebrated their annual festival makeover last weekend.

And the 2013 extravaganza of live music and so much more proved to be 'lucky seven' for organisers Mark and Jackie Bale and their stalwart team of helpers.

The three-day event, which featured more than 50 acts with music as diverse as Punjabi-style partying Bhangra to The Wurzels, welcomed record numbers of revellers thanks to its winning line-ups, with 3,000- plus people a day flocking through the gates.

Even the weather - which in the past has tested the stamina of organisers and the crowds - was passable.

"Incredibly it was our seventh year at the Parsonage Farm site and it really was lucky seven for us," said Jackie.

She and husband Mark spend the months before signing the acts listening and, where possible, seeing the artists in action.

"It's always tough trying to get the right balance of bands and music styles," she said. "But from the feedback we've received so far, I think we got it spot on this year.

"We started on a high on Friday with some really high calibre acts and that set the scene for the rest of the weekend."

With nearly four decades of rock and roll hits under their belts, Showaddywaddy helped pull in the crowds on the opening night, along with 80s psychedelic rock band Doctor and the Medics, West Somerset-based Crow Hailer and Neville Staple and his band.

Glastonbury veterans RSVP brought a touch of India to Watchet the following evening, with Shoot the Moon and The Skints providing the perfect warm-up for headline act The Hoosiers, who entertained brilliantly with some past favourites and a hint of new material.

And Sunday was anything but wind-down time on the festival front, with Main Stage acts ranging from the ever popular Wurzels to local Dixieland musicians The Darktown Strutters, making their first appearance at the festival.

And with dozens of acts on The Udder Stage, the chance to dance salsa, jive or freestyle, disco sessions and even a laughter workshop, there was no shortage of alternative entertainment.

"Numbers were definitely up this year, especially on the opening night, which was great," said Jackie.

A record demand for staying on site saw camping space going off-sale two weeks before the festival for the first time.

"Even the weather wasn't too bad, compared with what's been thrown at us in previous years," she said.

"We had some rain on Friday and it was pretty windy on Saturday but Sunday was near perfect.

"It took nine months of solid hard work to make the festival happen but we're really delighted and thrilled with how well it went.

"The line-up of acts was stunning and we've had some tremendous feedback already - it's all been incredibly positive."

The festival has broken even for the last four years, with organisers managing to help fund some small-scale community causes.

The pennies are still being counted and the final costs worked out for this year's event.

But Jackie is convinced that the local economy has benefited.

"People were going down into the town, using the shops, pubs and restaurants, which is all good for local businesses," she said.

"We won't know whether we've managed to do more than break even on the 2013 festival until the end of the year.

"But if we have, it will be local community projects that will benefit."

Photos: Pgphotography