THE ICONIC Bridgwater Carnival Concerts came back with a bang this week.

More than 600 performers took part in the colourful musical extravaganza that acts as a warm-up for the world famous Guy Fawkes Bridgwater Carnival in November.

This was the 123rd anniversary and it did not disappoint. First up were the Sally Williams Dancers who amazed once more with their Circle Of Life medley featuring tracks from the Lion King, The Little Mermaid and even the Animals of Farthing Wood. The numerous performers filled the stage and their colourful costumes and set were the perfect opener.

Next up was talented vocalist Paige Brunton who performed two classy tracks from the film Dreamgirls.

Third on, and the first carnival club to perform, were the Cavaliers with their appropriately-themed Cavaliers song scena. The action revolved around King Charles' birthday and there were some terrific masquerade costumes.

The next act on stage was Haygrove student Catrin Hudson who blew the audience away with her vocal range and powerful singing performing I Can Hear The Bells and I Know Where I've Been.

The Vagabonds have gone for a Beauty and the Beast theme this year and put on a lovely topsy-turvy adventure for the crowd to enjoy.

Acapella group Absolute Pitch were up next and impressed with a cover of Lorde's Royals, before the first Tableaux team entered the fray, with Wills Carnival Club's Time-themed effort.

The next front of curtain act was another who wowed the crowd with his flamenco guitar skills was Devon Salinas.

Renegades Carnival Club stood out with one of the evening's many highlights, performing a bright homage to Maori culture with songs from Disney's Moana, and even dancing the All Blacks' famous Haka.

Tenth on the stage were Fox King Dance Academy dancing to a trio of classic Motown hits.

Lime Kiln Carnival Club put on a terrific Aztec-themed display and had gone to great lengths to create authentic costumes for their Lost City of Teayo scene.

Teenage vocalist Kizzy brought hits from Katie Melua and Mliey Cyrus to the Town Hall stage, and was followed by the Ramblers ghostly funfair with werewolves and skeletons singing and dancing as part of the performance.

Ventriloquist Kevin Cripwell got the audience laughing with his act before the final group of the first half, the British Flag Carnival Club, performed C'est La Vie Paris, a loveletter to the French capital.

The audience welcomed the interval as a chance to discuss which acts were their favourites and grab some refreshments before coming back in ready for the Julia McDonald Dance Company's cowboy-themed medley Way Out West.

The variety in the front of curtain acts this year was marked, with vocal duo Tanya and Gemma performing big band staples That's Life and Big Finish.

Gremlins 'Ran to the Hills' during their native american themed scene, taking the audience from Alabama to the Rockies all on the Town Hall stage.

Kimberly Price showed off her vocal prowess with two ballads before the Crusaders came on with their lively London-set Old Smoke including crowd-pleasing hits Oom-Pah-Pah, Chim-Chim-Cher-ee and culminating with a riproaring rendition of Step In Time.

Dance group Heels continued the rapid pace with energetic choreography to Groove Armada's club classic Superstylin' among others.

Naturally slowing the pace were the second Tableaux club, the Centurions with a lovely take on the Wind In The Willows before singing comedienne Ann Philcox brought some terrific tongue-in-cheek tunes.

Griffens Carnival Club turned the stage into a winter woodland for a Winter Solstice Celebration before the Viva La Diva Showgirls performed a Gypsy-themed set.

The penultimate carnival club performance came from the YMCA with a fiery Welcome To Hell scene and included renditions of The Doors' Light My Fire and disco hit Hot Stuff.

A cracking concert was rounded off by Jake Godfrey singing Nina Simone's Feeling Good before the Marketeers transformed into pirates and closed out the show with a wonderful haunting visual.

This year's Carnival Concert is once again sensory overload - the front of curtain acts are outstanding and the carnival clubs are pulling out all the stops. This year's Carnival promises to be one of the best yet if the concert is anything to go by!