Martin Bax, a former mayor of the town,[1] conceived the Frome Festival and ran it from its inaugural occurrence in 2000 until 2007,[2] for which he received the MBE.

[4] The festival programme offers classical music, jazz, folk to indie, literature and drama, film, dance, workshops and free events.

[11] Steeleye Span appeared and more than two hundred players and singers performed Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, at the festival's annual Summer School.

[12] 2006 welcomed Paul Merton, and also included Tony Benn, Roy Bailey, The Troggs, Barry Cryer, Miles Kington, Peter Donohoe, The Mangledwurzels, Rory McLeod and John Tams.

[13] In 2009, 187 events took place over the ten days, including The Levellers, The Imagined Village, Imelda May, Adrian Edmondson’s band The Bad Shepherds, and Still Black Still Proud, starring Pee Wee Ellis, South Africa's The Mahotella Queens, and London-based Ghanaian rapper Ty.