MIXING top name DJs, local bands and nearly 7,000 music lovers, The Beatherder Festival is back from today until Sunday and is set to be the biggest yet.

With more than 100 performances featuring dance music, live bands and top DJs, this year’s programme promises to produce the biggest Beatherder yet.

Eleven different stages and venues are on offer at Dockber Farm, in the heart of the Sawley countryside, offering music and entertainment over three days.

On the Beatherder stage performances come from New York reggae group Easy Star All Stars and Zion Train, returning after a three-year absence from the festival to close Sunday night.

The new line-up of The Lancashire Hotpots will take to the stage and East Lancashire band, The Raggamuffins will also play a set.

Stars of the rave scene Utah Saints headline the Toiltrees stage, which this year boasts a new and improved sound system.

They will also host tonight’s Sugarbeat night with some special guests, including Layo & Bushwacka.

Also on the bill are The Blessed, a new musical collaboration between veteran producers Dave Beer and Gareth Whitehead, who have already gained public support from Norman “Fatboy Slim” Cook.

The line-up continues with Dan Le Sac, electro lads Does It Offend You Yeah and band of the moment, South London indie electro pop trio Chew Lips.

Now in its fourth year, Beatherder is operated by a team of six Yorkshiremen.

The festival was recently voted ninth in a top 25 best festival poll by The Times.

“There’s no secret to the way we put this together,” insists Beatherder’s Nick Chambers who, with Chris Garside, handles the talent booking.

“For us, it’s always been about just creating the kind of event that we would really like to go to,” he said.

“The bands and DJs are pretty excited to play. They know that it’s not a big money-making exercise and our commitment to ensuring that Beatherder is a welcoming, value-for-money event extends as far as ensuring that people aren't being overcharged for anything.”

Known as a back-to-basics, corporation-boycotting festival, Beatherder has attracted a cult following.

Starting life as a group of mates in a field, last year’s festival grew to 5,000 visitors and 2010 is expecting to see crowds of 7,000.

With no official sponsorship, the festival exists with the support of the surrounding community, serving up local food and alcohol, and in return showcasing little-known artistic talent in the form of festival art installations.

Back by popular demand for 2010 is the Working Men’s Club, which turns back the clock to the 1970s to the time of 10p pints and Ford Cortinas.

The club will also play host to the annual Beatherders Got Talent.

l BEATHERDER — Dockber Farm, Sawley, from Friday, July 2 until Sunday, July 4. Tickets £65, children £2. Tel: 01535 611100.