There was rocking in Rovigo when a Bedford band tried their hand at Euro-pop during an Italian music festival.

Rate Of The Day performed at Ro-Woodstock on Saturday, September 15, which was held in Bedford's twin Italian town of Rovigo.

The indie band made the trip after being asked by the Town Hall to act as musical ambassadors, and they picked up plenty of new fans along the way.

Bassist and songwriter Luke Fattorusso said: "It was absolutely blinding, an amazing experience.

"From the moment we got there they looked after us really well. It was a cracking festival, with a really good atmosphere, and we got to listen to some great bands on the Friday night.

"We had no idea how they were going to take to us but we seemed to get a really good reception."

Ro-Woodstock was first established in 1996, and features bands, theatre productions, live poetry and multi-media shows.

Rate Of The Day were recruited by Bedford Borough Council to play the festival and help to strengthen links between the two towns.

The band were formed in May 2006, and the current line-up – which also features singer Simon Cronin, guitarist and songwriter Chris Mills and drummer Dan Meese – was put together six months ago.

But while the band are no strangers to local audiences, Luke admitted the Italian crowds were a new experience.

He said: "There were some loud heavy metal bands playing, but audiences were more interested in the show, whereas in Bedford it is like a typical English crowd where everyone ploughs into the moshpit and jumps up and down.

"There was far more watching and seeing what the band were doing on stage. That makes for a very different experience when you are on stage.
"But it was just really good to get out there and play to a new crowd and hopefully make some new fans."

n True friendship was celebrated at Bedford railway station when a Marston Vale train was named after Bedford's German twin town.

The 'Bedford-Bamberg 30' was unveiled by Mayor Frank Branston and Bamberg's Burgermeister Werner Hipelius on Friday, marking three decades of the special relationship between the two towns.

The locomotive will run between Bedford and Bletchley. Mayor Branston said: "Twinning is about bringing people together so we're delighted that Silverlink have chosen to join our celebrations by naming this train after our two towns.

"The Bedford-Bamberg 30 will provide a lasting symbol of the success of the relationship between the people of Bedford and Bamberg."