ARTISTIC excitement has been ignited in Thurrock after plans were unveiled for a free festival bringing together big names and the cream of local talent.

The Village Beach Festival will come to Grays Riverside Park on July 18, hot on the heels of the popular Village Green event in Southend.

Seven stages at the festival will feature headline act Shlomo – a Glastonbury pro beatboxer who has performed with Bjork and Damon Albarn – and a pop-up show from CBeebies Rastamouse.

Organiser Metal is well known on the Essex arts scene for the Southend event as well as other large-scale art events that involve thousands of people.

The group says it wants to bring the “spirit of what’s beneath the surface” to the borough and let its artists “tell Thurrock’s story”.

Most of all the organisers say the spirit of the festival is about exploring, and exposing, Thurrock’s own glittering talent.

Colette Bailey, the group’s artistic director, said she was excited by the project.

She said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the welcome from all Thurrock’s different groups. It’s been fantastic and there’s a palpable excitement in the air.

“When you have a huge amount of people who care coming together – it’s a very, very powerful thing. It’s a showcase, a celebration and a very, very bonding experience in a community like Thurrock.”

Among the stages will be the main stage, an open mic stage, a performing youth stage and a busking stage.

Other features will include four art exhibitions, Nepalese sculpture and a set of beach huts designed and installed by local celebrities and artists, including Russell Brand.

Ms Bailey said the result would be a “powerful and transformative” experience.

A large number of local groups are getting involved in the day, including Thurrock Court Players, the Marquetry Society, the Writers’ Circle and Thurrock Operatic Society. Some of the borough’s schools will also be involved.

Artists will be able to apply for their own market stall, with each stall asked to have an interactive element to engage others.

Project manager Yogesh Taylor, 29, of Chadwell St Mary, explained: “It’s a moving and evolving experience.

Our aim is to engage people from ages two to 92 – and we want the community to feel like it’s their own, that’s why most of the artists are from Thurrock.”

Yogesh, who grew up in Chadwell St Mary, added: “I’ve always wanted to do something like this in this area and working with this project, so far I’ve been amazed by the talent that’s here.”