GUITARISTS and bass players have celebrated International Clash Day in Bridgwater, just miles from the village Joe Strummer lived in towards the end of his life.

On Saturday, SEED Sedgemoor's Guitar and Bass Group staged a pop-up performance in the town's streets to share Clash songs with passers-by.

Some listeners were new to the band, but others had heard of Joe or even knew him personally.

Six songs were featured, including Guns of Brixton performed outside a gym, and Straight to Hell, performed outside the Church.

Bankrobber was played in Fore Street – home to a number of banks and building societies in Bridgwater, and London’s Calling close to the phone shop.

Bridgwater Mercury:

As with last year, Should I Stay or Should I Go was performed at the Blake monument in the town centre, along with a rousing finale of I Fought the Law.

These Clash songs resonate with Bridgwater, a self-titled ‘rebel town’ that has a strong sense of pride in its own residents.

Bridgwater has also twinned itself with Seattle, home of the US radio station KEXP, which organise and hosts the annual International Clash Day on February 9.

The performance went down a treat with Bridgwater locals.

One shop worker said: “It's really great to have music here.

“More than anything, it has made our High Street busier, especially with all the shops on the High Street closing, and I can hear all the songs whilst I’m here at work.”

Bridgwater Mercury:

Cllr Brian Smedley said “Bridgwater is a Clash Town. It's exactly what Bridgwater is about – creative, alternative, radical music in a working class town”.

“It's just... well, wonderful!” said another young audience member."

The Guitar and Bass Group meets monthly and aims to re-engage people with music and get rusty players to pick up their instruments again.

Guitar and bass players of any level of experience are welcome to join the group.