TEN bands from Hampshire and the surrounding area have been announced as the lineup for Butserfest’s Introducing Stage this September.

The winners were picked after a record number of applications from local area bands of all genres and an online poll of fans.

Joining the lineup for Butserfest's big 10 year anniversary event are Portsmouth pop punkers High Down, Brighton's City of Ashes, Guildford rockers Cavalier, pop punk outfit We Deny and Alt rockers Treasures, both hailing from Basingstoke, Southampton based electronica rock band Reventure, The Isle of Wight's pop jazz funkers Embers, Southampton pop punk group Home For the Weekend and alt rock band A.R.K. and Petersfield youngsters Loyd.

Brighton’s City of Ashes and Southampton’s Home For the Weekend were the two bands chosen by popular demand from an online poll, both gaining thousands of votes and hot winging it direct to our stage, with the remaining Intro Stage acts being decided by a Butserfest judging panel.

Four further acts will be added to the Introducing Stage line up: one invited guest band and three decided from local schools and colleges' Battle of the Bands. Participating schools are South Downs College, Alton College and Chichester Music Academy.

Cllr Dean Phillips from East Hampshire District Council said:

“We are lucky to have so much musical talent from the local area to choose from. This was a difficult decision but the bands that have got through to the final lineup are all excellent and deserving of their place. Together with the rest of our lineup this year which includes headliners Mallory Knox and Young Guns, Butserfest 2016 looks set to be the best ever!”

Organised by East Hampshire District Council, Butserfest is the UK’s biggest alcohol and drug free festival. It was designed and launched specifically for young people in the area to give them access to a great festival experience with world class music, in a safe environment, but appeals to music lovers of all ages, who are all welcomed at the event.

There will be three stages of music all day, a high adrenalin 'activity zone' jam packed full of brilliant free activities, including the brand new addition of a zip wire for 2016. Backstage acoustic sets from some of the billed bands, artist signings and a whole host of on site traders and community stalls this year means organisers are pulling out all the stops to make this the biggest and best Butserfest yet.

Butserfest takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Petersfield in Hampshire on September 10. More information and tickets available at www.butserfest.co.uk