AN INAUGURAL festival in Hanwell was a big success at the weekend, as hundreds came out to celebrate their community and live music.

The Hanwell Hootie kicked off with the unveiling of a plaque in memory of Marshall Amps founder Jim Marshall, who sold his very first amps from a shop in Uxbridge Road and died last year.

Marshall Amps, now based in Milton Keynes, was a major sponsor for the event. After the unveiling, three pubs on the Lower Boston Road then played host to a number of bands as hundreds came out to enjoy an evening of live music.

Sound engineer Aleks Solinski, who helped at the event said: “Hanwell Hootie was inspiring to witness. Its reach had no boundaries, from the very young to the very old. It brought generations of music fans together. The event was a success of epic proportions.”

Mr Solinski said that Jim Marshall’s son Terry, an accomplished saxophone player, got up onstage to join Robert Hokum and The Devil Drives for a climactic finish to the event.

A message left by organisers on the event’s Facebook page said: “What an amazing time we all had yesterday! Big thanks to everyone for coming down and a massive thanks to the good folks at Marshall for all their support.”