BRIDGWATER famous Carnival Concerts returned this week with a spectacular show taking the audience on a musical journey across the globe and even through time!

The Carnival Concerts give a brilliant taster of the Carnival procession itself, with each of the town's 13 clubs putting on a show which this year included an eclectic mix of themes such as Diwali, the American Civil War and a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

These varied songs scenas and tableaux performances are punctuated by the mix of front of curtain acts which this year include a ventriloquist, a flamenco guitarist and a series of singers and dancers.

But who will take home the prestigious White Hart Cup this year?

The show opens with the Julia McDonald Dance Company with a thumping medley of energetic anthems kick things off with an 'Our School' theme.

Toe-tapping songs by Madness are interspersed with songs from the the musical version of Matilda and sends good signals for the evening's entertainment.

The first front of curtain act up is Megan Brunton, who capably takes on the hit 'Monster' from the musical adaptation of Frozen.

Our first carnival club to take the stage is the all-male Ramblers CC, who really kick things into gear with an audacious set based on PT Barnum musical 'The Greatest Showman' complete with an amazing finale featuring aerial acrobatics.

Their complex set design and energetic display is sure to put them into award contention.

The Ramblers all-action piece was a hard act to follow, but singer Christie Buttle brings her own kind of magic to the stage singing two of rock band Queen's hits.

British Flag Carnival Club are up next with 'Step into the Bad Side' featuring a sort of voodoo jungle theme complete with fittingly moody set design and lighting to enhance the songs. Their strong solo vocalists shine, while a haunting dance section complete with glowing ghosts in fluorescent lighting also proved a stand out moment.

Next up front of curtain were the Fox King Dance Academy who brought smoothly choreographed tap dancing to the stage and some impressively swift costume changes to boot.

Seventh on the stage are our first tableaux entry, Centurion CC, displaying absolutely rigidity with their aptly-themed Frozen Kingdom entry.

Another - rather different - type of royalty heads on to stage next, as talented teenager Brandon Filler from Bridgwater & Taunton College performs a humourous song under the guise of King George III.

YMCA CC may be one of the smallest carnival clubs but they do not let a lack of numbers stop them putting on a great show.

The club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and their song scena sees them travelling back to the heyday of 'Jazz Time' with glittering dresses and sharp suits to match.

Heels dance group followed kitted out in military-styled outfits dancing to Little Mix's empowerment anthem 'Salute'.

The Vagabonds CC wowed the crowd with incredible costume detailing for their Spanish-style Fiesta! effort. The ladies on stage had dazzling red and black sequin dresses while the men had shimmering gold matador cloths and the performers held an impressively high tempo throughout their set.

Young Devon Salinas blew every one away with his perfect accompaniment to the glitz and bombast of the show with his incredibly skilled mix of flamenco and classical guitar playing.

There was eager anticipation as the current holders of the White Hart Cup, Renegades CC were up next.

Their Diwali-themed Festival of Light effort saw club members pack the stage in brightly coloured costumes and show off some slick choreography.

One of Bridgwater's up and coming stars is Catrin Hudson, a teenage singing sensation who stunned the crowd with her rendition of 'One Night Only' from Dreamgirls.

The final first half act were the Cavaliers Carnival Club with their fun 'Welcome to the Jungle' which meant the audience headed into the interval in an upbeat mood.

Heading into the second half, we open with the Sally Williams Dancers and their 'Night at the Museum' which featured a wide mix of costumes, songs and stylish dancing.

One of the crowd favourites proved to be ventriloquist Kevin Cripwell who performed a highly amusing set with a raucous Grandad.

Next up, and surely one of the favourites for the White Hart Cup were Gremlins CC.

Their Mad Max-inspired post-apocalyptic race was quite something to behold, and they deserve particular props for their props which included motorcycles, traffic lights and a truck which even featured an exhaust which served as an extra piece of percussion.

Up next, and keeping the comedy of Victoria Wood alive, was singer Ann Philcox, entertaining the crowd with a rendition of Love Song.

Then it was the turn of the Lime Kiln Carnival Club and their Western-themed 'Home on the Range' with an impressive set design transforming the stage into an old-style Texan town.

A club with some strong solo singers, and the rambunctious Footloose finale to their song scena was another highlight of the night.

They were followed by the ever popular Viva La Diva Showgirls who brought high-kicking glitz and glamour to the stage with a series of dances inspired by New York's Radio City Hall Rockettes.

Continuing the Americana theme but in a very different style were Wills Carnival Club whose tableaux effort was based around The Gettysburg Address and the American Civil War.

They were followed by the youngest front of curtain act, 12-year-old Ruby Neale, singing Cyndi Lauper's classic True Colours.

The Marketeers CC took us back in time to Dickensian England with a set inspired by Oliver Twist and a Christmas Carol complete with authentic outfits, joyous songs and even a chase through the audience.

Taking to the stage next was vocalist Megan Boucher, performing the song Astonishing from the musical version of Little Women.

The penultimate carnival club on stage were Griffens CC with their song scena set in Asgard, home of the gods, as the Norsemen prepare for battle.

The 27th act on stage, and final front of curtain act was Harriet Gilbert, performing iconic ballad Memory from the musical Cats.

The show was closed by Crusaders Carnival Club with a colourful and fun Surf's Up set to end the show in style.

All in all the show was yet another wonderful showcase of the extraordinary pool of talent in Bridgwater and has us buzzing for carnival season!