Lyttelton’s London Street is about to rock again, but this time to a spectacular line up of live and local music at the Lyttelton Summer Festival on Saturday 26 February.

The festival will not only showcase Lyttelton’s talented bands, but also the port town’s buskers, arts & crafts and local produce as well as the bars, music venues and theatres that have all survived last September’s earthquake and aftershocks.

"There was significant damage to several venues,” festival co-organiser Carmel Courtney says. "The town wouldn't be the same without their vibrant presence and commitment to artists. So this festival is also a celebration of our many varied and fantastic venues that are all back up and thrumming.”

El Santo, The Monster Bar and the Wunderbar are just a few of the venues featuring live music and entertainment late into the night.

The festival kicks off at 10am with the Lyttelton Farmers Market on London Street, which will be closed to traffic for the day, then rolls into the Summer Hummer Street Party from 1pm. The LPC Main Stage programme includes popular performers Lindon Puffin, Ariana Tikao and Dr Sanchez + Senor Jules, and introduces super-talented musicians Delany Davidson & Rough Diamond Ghost Orchestra and the Wontanara African Drum Group.

Over on the Buskers Turf, 10 different acts - including 2010 World Buskers Festival crowd favourite Mulletman - offer up the best of street entertainment. There’s also a Library & Loons Kids’ Zone, The Volcano Radio Stage Bizarre Bazaar, Art & Craft Corner, lots of stalls on the street and, coincidentally, the Queen Mary 2 Ocean Liner in port. Entry to the Summer Hummer Street Party is just $2.   

Jointly organised by Project Lyttelton and Volcano Radio, the 2011 Lyttelton Summer Festival is proudly sponsored by Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC), continuing LPC’s longstanding relationship with the Lyttelton community and ongoing support for Lyttelton festivals.